The announcement this week that Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne is under criminal investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for reportedly “illegally collaborating with his campaign committee to raise campaign funds, promising a job to the leader of that committee and helping funnel money, an estimated half-million dollars, from his brother-in-law to the committee” is just the latest in a series of questionable acts involving Horne.
According to public records Horne was sanctioned for life by the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Aug. 20, 1973, after the SEC conducted an investigation and concluded “it is in the public interest to revoke the broker-dealer registration of T.C. Horne & Co., Inc and that Thomas C. Horne be, and he hereby is, barred from association with any broker, dealer, investment adviser or registered investment company.”
The SEC used very strong language in its decision regarding Horne’s conduct. There’s a reason they did.
The following comes from SEC document Release No. 10008, dated Feb. 14, 1973: “Horne failed accurately to make and keep current certain books and records, violated the anti-fraud provisions of the Federal securities laws, and filed false financial reports.”
Release No. 10350, dated Aug. 20, 1973, said Horne “consented to findings of violations” and Horne “willfully aided and abetted in violations.”
Phrases like “violated the anti-fraud provisions,” and “filed false financial reports with the Commission” are strong and powerful words that go well beyond Horne’s reported descriptions of his conduct.
Horne reportedly blamed computer problems and mistakes made while working his way through school. One has to remember Horne had an undergraduate degree from Harvard University and was attending Harvard Law School, among the world's most respected and elite educational institutions, when he began a financial investment business that operated in three states and the District of Columbia.
Horne graduated from law school, filed for bankruptcy and moved to Arizona where he became licensed to practice law in 1972.
But Horne’s ability to comply with the law goes beyond his lifetime problems with the SEC. In 2010 it was reported Horne failed to properly fill out corporation papers at the Arizona Corporation Commission. Horne failed to admit he’d had a bankruptcy on Commission public records from 1997-2000. Horne’s reported excuse for this omission was that he forgot about it.
An Arizona Corporation Commission representative said, “Errors on companies’ annual reports can be referred to the Arizona attorney general for investigation.” Failing to accurately fill out a public record can be a class 6 felony.
Horne’s history of misconduct involving the SEC and his purported forgetfulness would have kept him from being a police officer. Yet now he’s Arizona’s chief law enforcement officer? While the FBI investigates Horne -- who ran as a Republican in 2010, defeating Democrat Felecia Rotellini -- for the alleged campaign violations, Gov. Jan Brewer needs to order an independent investigation into Horne’s admitted omissions on public records at the Arizona Corporation Commission. And the State Bar of Arizona needs to examine Horne’s past misconduct that brought him a lifetime ban from the SEC and his admitted failure to properly fill out public records at the Arizona Corporation Commission. According to the State Bar website it is professional misconduct to "commit a criminal act and to engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation.”
While Horne denies the allegations, it’s very telling that Jim Keppel resigned as the head of the Attorney General’s Office Criminal Division just before the FBI investigation became public? Keppel is a retired Maricopa County Superior Court judge, former prosecutor and one of the most respected attorneys in Arizona. The FBI also doesn’t just investigate someone without cause. There needs to be a good reason to open a federal investigation.
Horne joins a growing list of Arizona Republican elected law enforcement officials that are reportedly under investigation by an array of authorities.
Sadly, until Horne and his cronies are either cleared or indicted, there’s a cloud hanging over Arizona law enforcement.
• Retired Mesa master police officer Bill Richardson lives in the East Valley and can be reached at bill.richardson@cox.net.
Rich posted at 10:11 am on Fri, Apr 6, 2012.
Sadly, law enforcement in Arizona is an anarchy administrated by clowns chasing gardeners, solving less than half of the murders, ignoring rape and pursuing reality T. V. opportunities. The allegations that the chief law enforcement officer takes a rather liberal stance as regards fraud isn't a big surprise.
Arizona Willie posted at 10:56 am on Fri, Apr 6, 2012.
Ever since local law enforcement began enforcing laws against illegal immigration there has been one smearing " investigation " after another announced with much fanfare all over the media.
How many of these " investigations " actually went to court and produced a conviction?
I believe the number is ZERO.
The powers that be attempt to smear the image and reputations of those who are trying to enforce immigration laws and preserve American jobs for Americans.
Sheriff Joe isn't perfect and the MCSO has indeed lost cases where they were sued for wrongful death etc. etc.
But NONE of the Federal so-called " investigations " of the major players has resulted in a conviction.
Just because they are accused and tried in the media doesn't make them guilty.
The media lies every day.
They just caught NBC lying about the Florida murder case because they edited a phone call from Zimmerman to make it look like he said something he didn't say in the order they broadcast that he said it. They cut a couple of sentences out and pasted it together.
This SHOULD be a criminal offense.
The way the DOJ has been conducting " investigations " should also be a criminal offense.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 11:11 am on Fri, Apr 6, 2012.
More... "Mad Dog".....Media Attacks against Republicans.
We are finally seeing an end to the Liberal/Progressive/Socialist-Democrat .."Media Lynching" of that poor guy Zimmerman in Florida. For the past two weeks we have seen Obama, Chis Matthews, Larry O'Donnell, Rachel Maddow, Ed, John Stewart, Wolf Blitzer, Anderson Cooper and the worst of the lot....NANCY GRACE....screaming, spitting, salivating, crying on cue.......painting "Zimmerman" as the worst human being since Dr. Mengele doing experiments on Jewish twins in the Death Camps.
NBC News on their Morning Show ....EDITED....a tape recording to re-arrange words in Zimmerman's phone call to the Police Department.
ARE THERE NO LIMITS THAT LIBERALS WILL GO TO TO ATTACK OTHERS ???
WHEN WILL THIS..........."V.E.N.D.E.T.T.A."....AGAINST CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS END ???
hillstreet posted at 11:42 am on Fri, Apr 6, 2012.
Thanks Bill. The headline was both accurate and amusing.
AZ LE has been under a cloud for years. where do we want to start? Arpaio, Babeu, PPD, MCSO dropping child abuse investigations, the list goes on.
ps- every time I hear a lawyer or the media calling a prosecutor a "chief law enforcement officer" I cringe. LEOs are men and women who strap on a gun and go out there and face the worst nightmares society has to offer. Lawyers worst challenges everyday are paper cuts and martinis.
Call a lawyer a prosecutor, but please stop calling them LEOs.
Cerulean posted at 2:49 pm on Fri, Apr 6, 2012.
This is a very good column Bill, and yet it is extremely sad. The ease at which the Republican Party controls Arizona’s high offices seems to make our State a magnet for . . . psychopaths. It could be argued for many of our leaders; poor behavioral controls, glib, fibbers and a peculiar lack of empathy (except for things that may not exist).
Arizona Willie posted at 3:09 pm on Fri, Apr 6, 2012.
Leon, the right wingers do the same things as NBC did.
That Breitbart fellow who passed away a week or so ago edited video / audio tapes to make Acorn employees appear to be saying things they didn't say.
He did that several times. The right wingers think lying is ok if it achieves their goals.
Sadly, sometimes lefties do too.
At first I thought Zimmermann was probably guilty, but when I saw the police report said they administered first aid in the back seat of the patrol car and then saw the video where they brought him into the station and one of the cops walked over and looked at the back of his head it became obvious that he was indeed injured and his story became much more likely to be true.
People try to claim he couldn't have a broken nose but that isn't true. I got my nose broke in a fight when I was a young man about 19 or so and it didn't bleed a lot and I didn't get black eyes either.
And then it comes out that he had called the police 7 times before, apparently while he was doing his neighborhood watch thing, and at no time did he identify a suspect by race until he was asked. Being mixed race himself I find it less likely he would be a raging racist out to kill blacks.
I truly believe he is being railroaded.
They are trying in him the press just like Arpaio.
No charges brought in a court, no arrests, just tons of media accusation and condemnation poisoning people's minds.
Dale Whiting posted at 3:12 pm on Fri, Apr 6, 2012.
Bill,
Nice piece. Well researched. Factual. So what's there to complain about?
Some draw conclusions not so well researched, conclusions that are opinions based on little if any facts. For example, we have people concluding that the President is hiding problems concerning his elligibility to be president. These we call Birthers. We have others who conclude that our government fails to enforce border security and immigration laws because illegal immigrants make money for businessmen. Some jump the gun and conclude that George Zimmerman is a racist, when at most all we can see is that he violated procedures and instructions acting like a vigilante and not like a neighborhood watch captain.
Let's see what comes of this, the Horne investigation and other investigations. Tom might have forgotten very crucial and germane facts about his life. And perhaps after investigation, there will be no proof otherwise. We need to see the dots connected by this investigation. If the dots indicate missconduct, perhaps Tom may have not realized he was acting innapropriately in chaneling funds related to campaigning. After all, as our State's attorney general, what does he know about the law? But don't we hear it said that "Ignorance of the law is no excuse?"
There appears to be a high degree of wreckless behavior in Tom Horne. And we conservatives are supposed to disdain wrecklessness. Perhaps Tom will be tried and eventually acquitted by a jury. But will he do a good job of acquitting himself with the voters?
Rich posted at 6:34 pm on Fri, Apr 6, 2012.
"Some jump the gun and conclude that George Zimmerman is a racist, when at most all we can see is that he violated procedures and instructions acting like a vigilante and not like a neighborhood watch captain."
Satire? You don't know 'when at most.' you co-opted the situation to decry vigilanteism. Like Obama co-opted the situation for political purposes, Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson for their own gain. In law enforcement especially, we don't wait for facts, we co-opt things for our own prejudices, probably because we feel manipulated by the forces it represents, the policeman writing a ticket, the neighborhood watch 'watching' us, the attorney general of the State and the country. In Arizona they are more than usually corrupt is all, so we tend to believe the worst, or defend the accused, very quickly.
Cerulean posted at 8:08 pm on Fri, Apr 6, 2012.
Leon, As it happens, this past week another of Rupert Murdoch’s media outlets ‘Sky News’ has been implicated in criminal behavior for phone hacking. Murdoch has so far claimed ignorance to any wrong doing but it seems clear that he is a very, very bad sport.
Arizona Willie, I like your admission about jumping to conclusions. I probably did the same by thinking Zimmerman a cold-blooded killer; however, I have a sense that the death of Trayvon Martin was avoidable.
Dale, I always enjoy reading your comments.
Rich, I enjoy reading your comments too – Thank you all.
billrichardson posted at 8:53 pm on Fri, Apr 6, 2012.
I appreciate everyone taking the time to read my column and comment. Thanks.
KJDaVinci777 posted at 9:40 pm on Fri, Apr 6, 2012.
Outstanding article- precise and to the point. Horne like, Arpaio, Babueso, Holder, Brewer, and Mr. Obama should resign and form a LLC in Chicago to continue their criminal activities. Common bottom line for all of the above - they are all LIARS .
BillG posted at 9:54 pm on Fri, Apr 6, 2012.
But there are clouds hanging over Babeu and Arpaio. And it looks like the Arpaio issue could break the Maricopa County treasury.
Rich posted at 10:15 pm on Fri, Apr 6, 2012.
Cerulean,
"I have a sense that the death of Trayvon Martin was avoidable."
I have a similar feeling, but at this point the truth works at too many cross purposes for it ever to be known. The police didn't check out the neighborhood watch's about monthly call? Zimmerman followed? Didn't? Was injured? Wasn't? At this point too many people have too many motives too hide too much, and they will. Journalists got caught, doesn't matter how you feel about it, you'll never really know.
When someone as powerful as a State Attorney General is investigated, the same rules apply. Too many motives at cross purposes, you'll never really know.
KJDaVinci777 posted at 10:23 pm on Fri, Apr 6, 2012.
Bill, is there anyway you could assist the FBI in conducting their investigations against corrupt enemies of Arizona - Arpaio-Bababuso-Horne, ect. These corrupt individuals with the support of Fox News (Fair an unbalanced) have made the FBI look INCOMPETENT...It is my opinion that a rookie DPS or PPD officer would have indictments by now...On the good news side for integrity law enforcement is the selection of Danny Garcia from the Dallas PD - Horne and Arpaio will not be able to cover up corruption IF it comes to Garcias attn. Could you write an article re: the status of the pending INDICTMENT against corrupto Jose aka nickel baggie Joey according to DEA sources.
samkat posted at 9:25 am on Sun, Apr 8, 2012.
Darn Bill, you need to raise the bar and run for AG. :-)
DavidNichols posted at 11:21 am on Mon, Apr 9, 2012.
Mr. Richardson,
Have you ever considered running for Governor of Arizona?
We sure could use some "Honesty, and Dignity" in our State.
I believe that Politicians should be held to an equal, or perhaps higher standard than that of "We the People"
Arizona could sure use some help in this regard.
To: Liberty