A few reasons why Horne should step aside from Fiesta Bowl scandal investigation

by David Safier

Attorney General Tom Horne has been asked to recuse himself from the Fiesta Bowl scandal investigation because of conflicts of interest, like his close, partisan connections to people who are being investigated. Horne called the request "idiotic."

"I am going to enforce the laws fully, fairly and impartially," Horne said Wednesday, adding that it is his intention to "investigate and, if appropriate, prosecute" those who may have violated state statutes.

Here are the headlines of some Press Releases Horne has put out through the Attorney General's office since January. You can decide for yourself whether these sound like they come from someone who is "impartial."

ATTORNEY GENERAL HORNE TO JOIN MULTI-STATE EFFORT TO CHALLENGE THE OBAMA HEALTH CARE LAW IN COURT (January 18)

ATTORNEY GENERAL TOM HORNE ATTACKS THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD (NLRB) FOR UNDERMINING THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPAL OF REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT; SECRET ELECTIONS (January 31)

HORNE ANNOUNCES ARIZONA NOW TO OPPOSE FEDERAL E.P.A. GREENHOUSE REGULATIONS (February 1)

ATTORNEY GENERAL TOM HORNE SAYS NEW YORK CITY INVESTIGATORS OVERSTEPPED BOUNDARIES IN GUN SHOW PROBE; BLOOMBERG FAILED TO COORDINATE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT (February 1)

HORNE JOINS GOVERNOR BREWER IN LAWSUIT AGAINST OBAMA ADMINISTRATION FOR FAILURE TO PROTECT ARIZONA’S BORDER WITH MEXICO (February 10)

RAZA STUDIES SUPPORTERS, IN A THUGGISH MOB, TRIED TO SHOUT DOWN ATTORNEY GENERAL HORNE (March 17)

The last one is my favorite example of Horne's "impartiality." "Thuggish mob" is not my idea of impartial phrasing. Nor are the following phrases from the Press Release.

• "a screaming mob of Raza Studies supporters"
• "a thuggish mob of Raza Studies supporters trying to shout down Horne"
• "A thuggish mob of Raza Studies reporters surrounded them [Horne and the Univision television crew] and tried to prevent the interview, screaming at the top of their lungs." [Note: I'm sure the word "reporters" is supposed to be "supporters." Horne needs a proofreader.]
• "Horne said, 'The Raza Studies program teaches irrational mob behavior as a matter of habit.'"

This language from the man whose job is to enforce Arizona's laws impartially. And we're supposed to believe he won't be as partial toward his friends as he is biased against those he considers enemies.

QUESTION: I'm not a student of Attorney General press releases. I imagine they tend to have a bit of a partisan tone, since it's a partisan office. But have other AGs used language that sounds like it comes from the Karl Rove campaign trail?