AZ House Moves Forward With Ethics Investigation Of Rep. Cook

Published: Tuesday, February 18, 2020 - 6:05pm
Howard Fischer/Capitol Media Services
David Cook

The Arizona House is moving forward with an ethics investigation into one of its own.

Rep. David Cook is accused of having an improper personal relationship with a female lobbyist and offering the Pinal County sheriff a campaign contribution in exchange for getting rid of a property seizure.

Acting Ethics Committee Chairman Rep. John Allen said House attorneys met privately with outside counsel to determine a way forward. 

“We’ve decided to go forward and investigate these two complaints and we want to get this done as quick as possible so Mr. Cook can either get himself vindicated or we can find out if there’s something more there that we need to look at. Mr. Cook deserves every opportunity to have his name cleared. So, much like the president, the trial didn’t go on forever and ever. It ended quickly because there was no there, there," Allen said. 

Allen also said two prior House investigations in as many years led to the ouster of two representatives — evidence the investigative process works.

Politics