AG Mayes calls for criminal investigation into nursing home with ties to Governor Hobbs

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes’ office is conducting a criminal investigation into a group home for foster children that received increased state funding after donations to Governor Katie Hobbs’ campaign.

On Friday, Mayes sent letters to the state Auditor General and to Maricopa County District Attorney Rachel Mitchell’s office asking them to halt their own investigations while Mayes conducts her investigation into Sunshine Residential Homes.

Sunshine is a state-run children’s foster home that receives taxpayer funds to care for some of the state’s most vulnerable children.

In April, ABC15 Investigators released their report on 9-year-old Jakob Blodgett, who died in 2022 after Sunshine allegedly allowed him to refuse his life-saving insulin shot. Sunshine had reportedly donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to both Hobbs’ inauguration fund and the Arizona Democratic Party.

While Sunshine was still dealing with the aftermath of Blodgett’s death, the Arizona Department of Child Safety gave the group a roughly 60% pay raise. Sunshine now receives more per day, per child, than any other home operator. Although Hobbs has no direct say in the pay raise, she appointed DCS chairman.

State Senator TJ Shope (R-16th District) said the situation was “upsetting” to him.

“We’re talking about taxpayer money that went to an entity – and frankly one of the few – that received a tax increase after campaign contributions,” Shope said.

It is, in part, ABC15 reporting that prompted Shope to write letters to Mayes, MCAO and the Auditor General demanding an investigation into whether laws were violated.

“Based on the reporting, it seemed like it was a serious enough matter to investigate,” Shope said. “It’s not something I’m going to turn my back on. As chairman of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, it’s my responsibility to look into this as well. And I think we’re going to have a lot of eyes on a lot of documents in the next few days and months.”

Mayes announced Thursday that she would launch a criminal investigation, but some Republicans raised concerns about whether Mayes, a Democrat, would be fair and impartial in her investigation. Letters Mayes sent to the auditor general and MCAO on Friday said additional investigations could be inappropriate and “jeopardize the integrity of the criminal investigations” in her office.

Shope said more needed to be done, even beyond Sunshine Residential Homes, to ensure that the services provided were adequately funded.

“I certainly believe it is our duty in the Senate to review the contracts that the Department of Child Safety has already entered into with other agencies to determine whether there have been any other potential irregularities there,” Shope said.

Hobbs’ office insisted in a statement that she was cleared of any wrongdoing.​

“Governor Hobbs is a social worker who is committed to Arizona’s families and children,” said a statement from Hobbs’ communications director Christian Slater. “It is outrageous to suggest that her administration is not doing the right thing for children in foster care.”