APACHE COUNTY, Ariz. — On Tuesday, the Apache County Board of Supervisors obtained outside counsel following an investigation into its own county attorney, Michael Whiting.
The Arizona Attorney General's Office is investigating Whiting for misuse of public funds and intimidation of political opponents.
Whiting has not had a challenger since he was first elected to office. The last time Whiting ran opposed was in 2008 during the Democratic primary for Apache County attorney.
12News talked to Criss Candelaria, the man he ran against.
As the county attorney at the time, Candelaria is the one who originally hired Whiting to the office.
“I wanted somebody to work hard, so I hired Whiting you know, based upon his, quote, accurate resume,” said Candelaria.
In a letter to Apache County Board of Supervisors, Attorney General Kris Mayes said Whiting is being investigated for "misuse of public monies" and "threatening and intimidating a political opponent."
12News journalist Colleen Sikora asked Candelaria who he thought those people might be.
"Anybody that disagrees with him? I mean, I mean it's anybody who might cause his kingdom to crumble,“ said Candelaria.
12News has learned injunctions against harassment have been filed against Whiting by staff.
When asked by 12News for comment, Whiting only replied to our questions via email denying allegations of harassment.
Whiting said in part: "An election year with primary elections less than 60 days away, these rumors and this smear campaign are just political tactics used by those who don't support me being the Apache County Attorney."
Meanwhile, Whiting is running unopposed again.
In his emails, Whiting also said he is not spending public money on his campaign and instead shared pictures of his work in bullying prevention.
“He finally got too big for his britches," said Candelaria. "He was so arrogant in his iron grip on county politics that he wasn't as careful as he should have been in the way he was trying to control people and taxpayer money.”
The attorney general's office has not commented further regarding the investigation into Whiting. 12News was told the search warrants served last week are still sealed.
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