Reporting 101: Just Ask: Two Reporters' Questions About Lobbying In Phoenix

Arizona attorney general investigating Phoenix law firm's falsified lobbying documents

Arizona Republic reporters Dustin Gardiner, Rob O'Dell and Richard Ruelas discuss Phoenix's recent efforts to crack down on lobbyists and how it will affect residents, city government and the media.

[includes a video with the two reporters in link below]]

Source: Dustin Gardiner and Rob O'Dell , The Republic | azcentral.com

Published 6:00 a.m. MT May 31, 2017 | Updated 3 hours ago 

"The Arizona Attorney General's Office is conducting a criminal investigation into an incident in which a high-profile law firm filed falsified documents with the city of Phoenix.

In January, The Arizona Republic reported the firm Burch & Cracchiolo had violated the city’s lobbying ordinance and had filed falsified documents to make it appear it had complied.
The firm, a presence in Phoenix's legal community for decades, later withdrew those documents. Firm President Ed Bull said the documents were prepared by a non-attorney staffer.
On Tuesday, the Attorney General’s Office confirmed the matter is the subject of a criminal probe. However, the office would not release details about the status or scope of the inquiry.
“All I can confirm is our criminal division is investigating the matter,” Mia Garcia, spokeswoman for Attorney General Mark Brnovich, said in an email in response to a question about whether the office has investigated the falsified documents. “We can’t comment any further.”
Burch & Cracchiolo declined to comment about the investigation.

• The new investigation into the law firm is the second probe involving the city of Phoenix publicly confirmed by the attorney general in the past two weeks.
• The first involved Councilman Michael Nowakowski, who is accused of not properly disclosing a conflict of interest in a deal involving the sale of a prime piece of city-owned land. He has denied any wrongdoing.

Phoenix officials began scrutinizing the lobbyist registration status of Burch & Cracchiolo and another lobbyist earlier this year.
The issue arose after a City Council vote on a controversial proposal to pay a developer about $1.2 million for storm-water culverts built on private property in Ahwatukee Foothills. The council denied that request.

But two lobbyists for the developer who sought to influence council members drew attention afterward.
The developer had hired lobbyists who, according to the city, weren't registered. Those lobbyists were lawyer Bull and political consultant Joe Villasenor, a former city staffer.

> Phoenix city code requires paid lobbyists to register, disclose their clients and disclose campaign contributions or gifts they give to elected officials.
The intent is to provide transparency.
The law firm had not registered since 2014, and Villasenor was last registered as a lobbyist in 2011, city officials said in January.
At first, Burch & Cracchiolo insisted it had complied with the city’s lobbyist-reporting rules. The firm filed a signed affidavit with the City Clerk's Office contending it had submitted nine separate filings over the past two years, which would have put the firm in compliance with the city.
Holm, the city attorney, said those documents were falsified and backdated.
Read more > AZ Central