TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," ARIZONA ATTORNEY GENERAL KRIS MAYES JOINS US TO RESPOND TO THE WHITE HOUSE FREEZING FEDERAL GRANTS AND OTHER FUNDING.

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TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE FEDERAL JUDGE HAS TEMPORARILY BLOCKED PARTS OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S FREEZE ON FEDERAL GRANTS AND LOANS THAT COULD TOTAL TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS, MINUTES BEFORE THE ORDER WAS SET TO GO INTO EFFECT.

THE FREEZE IS ON PAUSE UNTIL MONDAY.

THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS THAT THE SPENDING FREEZE WAS NEEDED TO BRING FEDERAL PROGRAMS IN LINE WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP'S PRIORITIES.

REACTION TO THE PRESIDENT'S MOVE FROM DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP ON CAPITOL HILL.

>> LAST NIGHT, PRESIDENT TRUMP PLUNGED THE COUNTRY INTO CHAOS.

WITHOUT A SHRED OF WARNING.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED A HALT TO VIRTUALLY ALL FEDERAL FUNDS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

IT'S A DAGGER AT THE HEART OF THE AVERAGE AMERICAN FAMILY IN RED AND BLUE STATES, IN CITIES AND SUBURBS, IN RURAL AREAS.

IT IS JUST OUTRAGEOUS.

>> Reporter: ARIZONA SENATOR MARK KELLY STATED THAT, QUOTE, PRESIDENT TRUMP'S RECKLESSNESS IS GOING TO HARM ARIZONA.

SENATOR RUBEN GALLEGO RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING CHILDREN WILL GO HUNGRY, ELDERLY AMERICANS WON'T BE ABLE TO PAY RENT AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS WILL HAVE BUDGETS CUT BECAUSE OF THE TRUMP DEPARTMENT'S FREEZE.

IT IS CREATING CHAOS IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND PHOENIX MAYOR KATE GALLEGO CALLED IT RECKLESS AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL ADDING IT MEANS DEFUNDING OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, JEOPARDIZES WATER SECURITY AND THREATENS INFRASTRUCTURE AT SKY HARBOR, BUT THE WHITE HOUSE LOOKED AT THE ORDER MUCH DIFFERENTLY.

>> THIS IS NOT A BLANKET PAUSE ON FEDERAL ASSISTANCE AND GRANT PROGRAMS FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE, THAT INCLUDES, I'M NOT NAMING EVERYTHING THAT'S INCLUDE BUD TO GIVE YOU A FEW EXAMPLES.

SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS.

MEDICARE BENEFITS.

FOOD STAMPS.

WELFARE BENEFITS.

ASSISTANCE THAT IS GOING DIRECTLY TO INDIVIDUALS WILL NOT BE IMPACTED BY THIS PAUSE.

TED: INDEED, REPUBLICANS ON CAPITOL HILL REFER TO ACTIONS BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

WHEN QUESTIONED ABOUT THIS MOVE BY THE TRUMP WHITE HOUSE.

>> I THINK IT'S REVIEW TIME.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE ORDER IS TO TRUE.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, NOT IN ADDITION TO BURROWING PEOPLE IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE STATE, ALSO WAS RUSHING MONEY OUT THE DOOR.

MY GUESS IS THEY'RE TRYING TO BE COMPLIANT WITH THE LAWS IN THE PAST.

IT'S APPROPRIATE TO LOOK AT IT AND MAKE SURE THERE ISN'T NEFARIOUS ACTION THAT TOOK PLACE AT THE END OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

TED: A U.S. JUDGE BLOCKED PARTS OF THE EXECUTIVE ACTION PUTTING THE FREEZE ON PAUSE UNTIL MONDAY.

ARIZONA JOINED 21 OTHER STATES IN FILING SUIT AGAINST THE PRESIDENT'S ACTIONS FILED BY STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL KRIS MAYES PRIOR TO THE AFOREMENTIONED BLOCK BY A JUDGE IN A DIFFERENT CASE.

FOR MORE ON THIS WE WELCOME ARIZONA ATTORNEY GENERAL KRIS MAYES.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW.

>> THANKS, TED.

TED: A VERY BUSY DAY.

>> A WILD DAY ALREADY.

TED: TALK ABOUT YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE PRESIDENT'S ACTION?

>> WELL, IT WAS, AGAIN, HERE WE ARE, SECOND WEEK IN A ROW OF BLATANT, UNCONSTITUTIONAL ACTION BY DONALD TRUMP, AND IT ALSO VIOLATED STATUTORY PROVISIONS AND SO I JOINED WITH, AS YOU SAID, 21 OTHER A.G.s ACROSS THIS COUNTRY TO SUE TO STOP IT, TO GET A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST HIS ACTION, AND TO PREVENT DEVASTATING LOSSES TO THE PEOPLE OF ARIZONA.

I MEAN, THIS THING WOULD HAVE CRUSHED OUR RURAL HOSPITALS.

IT WOULD HAVE DENIED MEDICAID PAYMENTS.

THERE WAS A TIME TODAY WHERE ARIZONA COULD NOT ACCESS THE MEDICAID PORTALS OR AHCCCS PROGRAM COULD NOT GET INTO THE MEDICAID PORTAL, AND THAT HAPPENED ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THEY SHUT IT DOWN.

SO THAT'S A BUNCH OF MALARKEY THAT YOU JUST PLAYED THERE FROM THE TRUMP SPOKESPERSON, THEY SHUT EVERYTHING DOWN.

HEADSTART, CHILDREN WHO GET FOOD AT SCHOOL WOULD BE DEPRIVED OF THAT.

I COULD GO ON AND ON INCLUDING LAW ENFORCEMENT.

TED: YOU SAY MALARKEY TO FOOD STAMPS AND INDIVIDUALS NOT AFFECTED.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE EXECUTIVE ORDER IS VERY BROAD, VERY SWEEPING AND YOU KNOW, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS READ IT, AND YOU UNDERSTAND THAT IT AFFECTS ALMOST ALL FEDERAL FUNDING, AND I WOULD INCLUDE OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AT THE BORDER, YOU KNOW?

WE HAVE 27 DRUG TASK FORCES IN ARIZONA DIRECTLY TARGETING FENTANYL AND THE FENTANYL CRISIS AND GOING AFTER THE MEXICAN DRUG CARTELS, AND THOSE TASK FORCES ARE DEFUNDED BY THIS MEMO OUT OF OMB AND THE WHITE HOUSE, AND THAT'S INSANE WHEN DONALD TRUMP CLAIMS THAT HE WANTS TO GET A CHANNEL ON THE MEXICAN DRUG CARTEL.

TED: HAVE YOU HEARD FROM OFFICIALS, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS IN THAT PART OF THE WORLD?

>> OH, YES, I'VE SPOKEN TO TWO CONSERVATIVE SHERIFFS, TWO OF THE MOST CONSERVATIVE SHERIFFS IN ARIZONA.

ONE OF THEM CALLED IT DEVASTATING TO SCOMPLOERMENT TO OUR BORDER EFFORTS, THE OTHER ONE, TED, CALLED IT BULL -- FILL IN THE BLANK.

TED: YES, B.S., IN OTHER WORDS.

>> B.S.

THESE GUYS PROBABLY VOTED FOR TRUMP, BUT NOW WE HAVE THIS TERRIBLE EXECUTIVE -- NOT EXECUTIVE ORDER, BUT THIS TERRIBLE DIRECTIVE THAT WILL HURT AND DAMAGE ARIZONA DEEPLY.

TED: IMPACT ON YOUR OFFICE?

>> YEAH, WE HAVE 14 OR 15 FEDERAL GRANTS THAT WE THINK WILL BE IMPACTED BY THIS, BASICALLY NULLIFIED, INCLUDING, TED, ONE FOR ASSISTING THE VICTIMS OF CRIME, THAT IS WHAT DONALD TRUMP JUST DEFUNDED.

DONALD TRUMP JUST DEFUNDED OUR POLICE, AS YOU KNOW, I'M A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, HE DEFUNDED DPS.

HE DEFUNDED OUR HIDEA INITIATIVES, DRUG TASK FORCES IN ADDITION TO NUMBER OF OTHER PROGRAMS IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA THAT WILL BE DEEPLY IMPACTED BY THIS.

SO THAT'S WHY WE FILED AN EMERGENCY TRO IN FRONT OF A JUDGE IN RHODE ISLAND.

TED: THE OTHER CASE WE HAVE UNTIL MONDAY FOR THE PAUSE?

>> A SEPARATE COURT CASE ACHIEVED A SHORT PAUSE AND OUR CASE WILL MOVE FORWARD AS WELL.

WE NEED TO EXTEND THE PAUSE OUT AND HOPE TO GET THE PAUSE AS LONG AS WE CAN, EXTENDED AS FAR AS WE CAN.

TED: THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS THIS HAS TO BE DONE, IT HAS TO BE DONE BECAUSE THE AGENCIES NEED TO BE IDENTIFIED, THEY NEED TO REVIEW ALL OF THEIR PROGRAMS AND THAT, AS YOU SAW FROM THE REPUBLICAN LAWMAKER AND THERE IS MORE THAN ONE REPUBLICAN LAWMAKER SAYING THIS, THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WAS RUSHING MONEY OUT AT THE LAST SECOND AND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION NEEDS TO GET CONTROL.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

>> BY SAYING THAT THEY HAVE PAUSE, WHICH BASICALLY MEANS FROZEN IN PLACE ONGOING PROGRAMS LIKE MEDICAID.

FUNDING FOR OUR HOSPITALS, FOR OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THAT IS NOT MONEY THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WAS, YOU KNOW, PUSHING OUT THE DOOR.

THAT'S JUST FUNDING THAT OUR STATE DESPERATELY NEEDS AND HAS BEEN UTILIZING FOR YEARS IF NOT DECADES.

SO THAT'S JUST A BUNCH OF -- I THINK WHAT HAPPENED, TED, IS THEY GOT A LOT OF BLOWBACK FROM THIS TODAY.

THEY UNDERSTOOD THE CHAOS THAT THEY CAUSED AND AT LEAST WITH REGARD TO THE MEDICAID PAYMENTS, THEY DID START TO SAY, WELL, NEVER MIND, THEY STARTED TO WALK THAT BACK, AND THEY STARTED SLOWLY REOPENING THE PORTAL, AT LEAST FOR MEDICAID PAYMENTS, BUT IT'S NOT CLEAR THAT ANY OF THAT IS TRUE FOR THE REST OF THE FUNDING.

TED: AS FAR AS A LAWSUIT IS CONCERNED, NO AUTHORITY TO DO SO?

THIS IS MONEY MANDATED BY CONGRESS?

>> WE SUED ON SEVERAL GROUNDS.

ONE IS IT VIOLATES THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES ACT.

SO WHENEVER, YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO CHANGE A LAW OR CHANGE A FUNDING STREAM OR IN APPROPRIATIONS, YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH A PROCESS UNDER THE APA, MORE IMPORTANTLY IT'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL TED, THE BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP SITUATION THAT WE'LL PROBABLY TALK ABOUT, BUT FLATLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

NO PRESIDENT WHO APPARENTLY, THIS ONE WANTS TO CONSIDER HIMSELF A DICTATOR, CAN OVERRIDE A PREVIOUSLY ENACTED CONGRESSIONAL LAW.

SO THIS IS A CONGRESSIONAL ACT DULY PASSED AND DONALD TRUMP COMES INTO OFFICE AND SAYS, OH, NEVER MIND, I'M GOING TO, WITH THE STROKE OF A PEN, SAY NO, STATE, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET THE MONEY, IT'S UNLAWFUL.

TED: YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GET THE MONEY UNTIL YOU ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE PRESIDENT'S POLICIES.

THAT WAS IN THAT DIRECTIVE?

>> SEE, AGAIN, HE'S SORT OF SAYING THE QUIET PART OUTLOUD, RIGHT?

HE'S SAYING, I DON'T LIKE CONGRESS' ACTIONS, SO I'M GOING TO ONLY ALLOW THIS MONEY TO FLOW, IF IT MEETS UP WITH MY PRIORITIES AS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

NEWS FLASH, DONALD TRUMP, THAT'S NOT THE WAY OUR SYSTEM WORKS.

WE HAVE THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT, AND CONGRESS IS ONE OF THEM, THE PRESIDENT IS THE OTHER.

WE DO NOT HAVE A DICTATORSHIP.

TED: AT THE VERY LEAST, SOUNDS AS THOUGH, AND I KNOW FROM FOLLOWING THIS THING ALL AFTERNOON, IT'S CONFUSING AT BEST, AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE GOALPOSTS ARE MOVING AT A VERY RAPID PACE AROUND THE FIELD?

>> ABSOLUTELY, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS CHAOS BY DESIGN, BUT I DO KNOW IT'S CHAOS, BUT IT'S HURTING EVERYDAY ARIZONANS.

YOU KNOW, DONALD TRUMP CAME INTO OFFICE AND WAS ELECTED ON, I GUESS, THE STRENGTH OF HIS ARGUMENTS THAT HE WAS GOING TO BE THE ONE TO LOWER COSTS.

I BELIEVE IT'S ACTUALLY FOLKS LIKE ATTORNEYS GENERAL ACROSS THE COUNTRY DOING OUR BEST TO LOWER COSTS, AND HOLD CORPORATIONS, BIG CORPORATIONS ACCOUNTABLE.

BUT THAT'S WHAT HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO DO, LOWER COSTS.

DOES ANYBODY THINK WHAT HE DID TODAY IS GOING TO HELP ANYONE OR LOWER COSTS?

NO.

IT'S GOING TO HARM SCHOOLKIDS WHO GET FREE LUNCH AT SCHOOL.

IT'S GOING TO HARM VETERANS IN THEIR HOUSING.

IT'S GOING TO HARM SECTION 8 HOUSING.

IT'S GOING TO HARM OUR HOSPITALS IN RURAL ARIZONA WHO MAY CLOSE BECAUSE OF THIS.

TED: CLARIFY, IF YOU WILL BECAUSE, AGAIN, THE ADMINISTRATION AND REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS ARE SAYING THIS WILL NOT AFFECT PEOPLE INDIVIDUALLY.

IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE MONEY WILL GO TO THE STATE AND THE STATE DOLES IT OUT.

OKAY, THE MONEY GOING TO THE STATE IS NOT AN INDIVIDUAL, BUT THE STATE DOLES THIS STUFF OUT TO INDIVIDUALS.

>> YEAH, TO INDIVIDUALS.

WHAT ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT?

WHAT ARE THEY SAYING?

SAYING JUST BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY CHECKS, NOTHING TO SEE OVER HERE?

THERE'S A LOT TO SEE OVER HERE.

THERE'S A LOT THAT GOES THROUGH STATE AGENCIES, INCLUDING AHCCCS, WHICH IS MEDICAID PAYMENTS.

WHAT ABOUT PREGNANT WOMEN OR IF SOMEONE HAS A SURGERY SCHEDULED TOMORROW AND THEY'RE ON MEDICAID?

WHAT HAPPENS?

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN?

MEDICAID PAYMENTS WERE SUSPENDED.

THE MEDICAID PORTAL WAS CLOSED TODAY, SHUT DOWN BECAUSE DONALD TRUMP, I GUESS, DECIDED HE DIDN'T LIKE FEDERAL FUNDING GOING TO THE STATES.

>> AND AGAIN, THE CONFUSION IS ONCE TUESDAY ROLLS AROUND OR WHENEVER THE TRO THAT YOU FILED, WHENEVER THAT DEADLINE IS, IF IT'S LIFTED, WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> YEAH, AND SO WE WILL OBVIOUSLY BATTLE TO THE BITTER END TO MAKE SURE THAT WE NOT ONLY GET A TRO, BUT IF NECESSARY, A PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION THAT WILL LAST EVEN LONGER AND OVERTURN THIS DECISION.

IT IS SO IMPORTANT, IT IS CRITICAL FOR OUR STATE, TED, THAT I WIN THIS LAWSUIT, AND AS GOD IS MY WITNESS, I WILL DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO WIN THIS LAWSUIT.

>> YOU'RE INVOLVED IN ANOTHER LAWSUIT AGAINST THE PRESIDENT.

THIS ONE AN EXECUTIVE ORDER AS OPPOSED TO DIRECTIVE, DIFFERENCE WITHOUT TOO MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE THERE, OR VICE VERSA.

THE BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP, HE WANTS IT OUT OF THERE.

HE SAYS AT THE VERY LEAST THAT NEEDS TO BE CLARIFIED.

YOU SAY?

>> I SAY THE 14th AMENDMENT SAYS WHAT IT SAYS, AND THE CONSTITUTION SAYS WHAT IT SAYS, AND THE CONSTITUTION, THE BLACK LETTER LAW OF THE CONSTITUTION SAYS THAT ANY PERSON BORN OR NATURALIZED IN THE UNITED STATES IS A UNITED STATES CITIZEN, AND I GUESS DONALD TRUMP DOESN'T LIKE THE 14th AMENDMENT, SECTION 1 OF THE 14th AMENDMENT, BUT AGAIN, IT DOESN'T MATTER.

NO PRESIDENT CAN, WITH THE STROKE OF A PEN IN AN EXECUTIVE ORDER, WRITE A SECTION OF THE CONSTITUTION INTO OBLIVION.

THAT CAN'T HAPPEN.

TED, IT WOULD BE LIKE, IF YOU BECAME PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TOMORROW AND YOU DECIDED YOU DIDN'T LIKE THE 2nd AMENDMENT, AND YOU JUST ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER SIGNING IT AWAY.

THAT WOULD BE JUST AS RIDICULOUS.

>> AGAIN, THOUGH, HE SAYS IT'S BASED ON HISTORICAL MYTH, BASED ON A WILLFUL MISINTERPRETATION OF THE 14th AMENDMENT THAT THE 14th AMENDMENT WAS NEVER DESIGNED TO DEAL WITH FOLKS WHO CAME TO THE COUNTRY WITHOUT PROPER AUTHORIZATION?

>> WELL, I GUESS, AGAIN, HISTORY LESSON BACK TO DONALD TRUMP.

THE 14th AMENDMENT WAS ESTABLISHED DURING RECONSTRUCTION AFTER THE CIVIL WAR, AND AFTER THE DREAD SCOTT DECISION WHICH THE SUPREME COURT AT THAT TIME DETERMINED THAT AFRICAN-AMERICAN SLAVES AND DESCENDANTS OF SLAVES WERE NOT CITIZENS.

THE 14th AMENDMENT WAS PASSED AND SAID THAT ANY PERSON BORN IN THE UNITED STATES IS A CITIZEN.

NOW IF DONALD TRUMP AND HIS ALLIES DON'T LIKE THAT, IF THEY DISAGREE WITH THAT, THEN THEY CAN TRY TO ORGANIZE A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION AND AMEND THE CONSTITUTION, BUT I DOUBT THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

TED: ALSO KEY IS THE PHRASE SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION THEREOF, AND FOLKS WHO COME FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY ARE NOT SUBJECT TO THIS JURISDICTION.

THE PARENTS ARE NOT SUBJECT, AND THUS THE CHILD WOULD NOT BE SUBJECT?

>> WELL, I HOPE THAT'S NOT TRUE, BECAUSE IF THAT'S TRUE, AND IF DONALD TRUMP -- IF THAT'S WHAT DONALD TRUMP IS ARGUING, THEN DOES THAT MEAN THAT I DON'T HAVE JURISDICTION OVER MEXICAN DRUG CARTEL MEMBERS WHEN THEY'RE IN ARIZONA?

BECAUSE I SURE THINK I DO.

I PROSECUTE THEM ALL THE TIME.

WE ARREST THEM ALL THE TIME, AND IF WE WERE TO ADOPT DONALD TRUMP'S INTERPRETATION OF THAT, IT WOULD REALLY INDEED LAW ENFORCEMENT'S ABILITY TO DO ITS JOB, AND I CERTAINLY WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE JURISDICTION OVER INDIVIDUALS WHO ENGAGE IN FRAUD IN THIS COUNTRY, AND ON DOWN THE LINE.

TED: WOULD THAT NOT BE DIFFERENT THAN A CHILD BEING BORN IN THIS COUNTRY?

>> A PARENT?

WELL, I KNOW, I -- NO.

WE HAVE JURISDICTION, AND IF THE CHILD IS BORN IN THE UNITED STATES, THEN THAT PERSON IS A CITIZEN.

TED: DO YOU EXPECT THIS TO GO TO THE SUPREME COURT IN SOME WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM?

>> SURE, YEAH.

TED: WHAT DO YOU EXPECT THE COURT TO DO?

>> I EXPECT THE COURT TO BE THE STRICT CONSTRUCTIONIST THAT THEY SAY THEY ARE AND READ THE CONSTITUTION AND THE 14th AMENDMENT AND READ THE WORDS IN THE 14th AMENDMENT AND DECLARE THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE BORN HERE ARE CITIZENS.

WE'VE GOT OUR CASE.

WE FEEL VERY GOOD ABOUT THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON WHERE, TED, THE JUDGE TOOK 25 MINUTES AND SAID THAT HE HAD NEVER SEEN A CASE AS CLEAR AS THIS ONE AND RULED IN OUR FAVOR, THEN WE THINK IT WILL GO TO THE 9th CIRCUIT AND THE SUPREME COURT.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT THE PRESIDENT WILL SAY ON THAT?

YOU WENT THERE ON PURPOSE BECAUSE YOU KNEW YOU WOULD GET A FAVORABLE RULING?

>> I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT, BUT WE GOT A FAVORABLE RULING.

TED: BEFORE WE LET YOU GO, I WANT TO TALK WITH BUT THIS, THE ISAAC SCHOOL DISTRICT, 4800 KIDS AND YOU WIND UP 19 -- FIRST OF ALL, HOW DOES A DISTRICT THAT SIZE, THAT SMALL, WIND UP $19 MILLION IN THE RED?

WHERE IS THE OVERSIGHT?

>> OBVIOUSLY, IT WAS NOWHERE NEAR WHERE IT NEEDED TO BE, THIS IS EXTREMELY CONCERNING, AND WE WILL GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT.

WE'VE BEEN ASKED TO DO AN INVESTIGATION, WE WILL DO AN INVESTIGATION.

PART OF THE PROBLEM, I THINK.

IT'S EARLY DAYS, WE HAVE A RECEIVER IN THERE WORKING ON REALLY WHAT I THINK NEEDS TO BE THE MOST, OUR PRIMARY FOCUS RIGHT NOW IS MAKING SURE THE KIDS STILL HAVE A SCHOOL TO GO TO.

THE KIDS SHOULD NOT BE THE VICTIMS OF THIS MISMANAGEMENT.

WE THINK THEY FAILED THE SCHOOL DISTRICT -- THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FAILED TO PULL DOWN COVID MONEY, BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, THAT IS A LOT OF MONEY TO NOT BE THERE AT THE END OF THE DAY, AND WE WILL INVESTIGATE.

TED: HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADERS WANT A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION.

YOU SAY YOU'RE GOING TO DO THAT.

>> YEAH.

TED: SHOULD SOMETHING HAVE BEEN DONE SOONER?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S EARLY DAYS TO DETERMINE WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE SOONER, BUT OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE SOONER.

THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO GET ON THIS POINT.

I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE A LOT OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THERE ARE A LOT OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT IN GENERAL ARE GOING TO BE STRUGGLING BECAUSE OF VOUCHERS, BECAUSE WE JUST DON'T FUND OUR SCHOOLS, OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THE WAY WE SHOULD BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE IS SPENDING A BILLION DOLLARS ON A BOONDOGGLE OF A VOUCHER PROGRAM AND ALLOWING OUR TAXPAYER MONEY TO BE SPENT ON THINGS LIKE DUNE BUGGIES AND TRIPS TO DISNEYLAND, AND THEN SOME OUTRIGHT FRAUD.

I'VE PROSECUTED SEVERAL CASES OF ALLEGED FRAUD IN THE ESA PROGRAM WHICH PARENTS WERE MAKING UP BIRTH CERTIFICATES AND CREATING GHOST CHILDREN AND PULLING DOWN TAXPAYER MONEY FOR THAT.

WE NEED A LOT OF WORK IN THE EDUCATION SPACE.

>> YOU MENTIONED HOUSE LEGISLATURE.

MAJORITY LEADER SAYS YOU HAVE SHOWN ZERO INTEREST IN TACKLING CORRUPTION IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS?

>> THAT'S ABSURD AND CONTRARY TO EVERYTHING THEY SAID TO YOU, AND EVERYTHING THAT I SAID ON CHANNEL 12.

THEY JUST LIED AND MADE THAT UP.

OF COURSE I AM CONCERNED ABOUT ANY KIND OF MISMANAGEMENT OR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.

WE WILL INVESTIGATE THAT AND GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT, BUT THERE HAS TO BE AN ACTUAL INVESTIGATION FIRST AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE GOT TO DO FIRST.

TED: WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN TO THE DISTRICT SHOULD THE COUNTY CONTINUE TO FUND THIS THING?

THE TREASURER SAYS IT'S GONE, WE CAN'T KEEP DOING THIS.

WHAT SAY YOU?

>> WHAT I THINK IS SOMEBODY NEEDS TO -- AGAIN, WE'VE GOT A RECEIVER IN PLACE.

HE IS COMING UP WITH SOLUTIONS.

WE BELIEVE IN HIM A GREAT DEAL, HE'S A VERY, VERY TALENTED RECEIVER, BUT ULTIMATELY, IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, WE NEED THE LEGISLATURE, AND I KNOW THAT MATT GRESS HAS PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO KEEP THE FUNDING GOING, OR THE COUNTY TO CONTINUE THE WARRANTS AND KEEP THE FUNDING GOING UNTIL WE GET TO THE NEXT STEP SOLUTION.

TED: COUNTY TREASURER SAYS THERE'S NO -- THERE'S NO AUTHORITY, NO STATUTE THAT LET'S THEM DO THIS?

>> WE THINK THAT'S TRUE.

WE THINK THERE ARE NO STATUTES THAT SAY HE CAN'T DO IT AND THEY HAVE BEEN DOING IT.

IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

TED: ARE CLASSES GOING ON?

ARE PEOPLE GETTING PAID?

ARE BUS DRIVERS DRIVING KIDS?

WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THE KIDS IN THE DISTRICT?

>> TO MY KNOWLEDGE THIS WEEK, THAT IS HAPPENING.

THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT THE WEEKS GOING FORWARD.

TED: LAST THING.

>> YEAH.

TED: ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT, THAT IS, OF COURSE, THE SUIT AGAINST THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION -- ACTUALLY NOT AGAINST DONALD TRUMP, AND THAT'S KEY AS FAR AS THE FAKE ELECTORS AND -- I'VE MENTIONED ON THE AIR THAT I'M SURE IT'S A WISE THING NOT TO GO AFTER DONALD TRUMP ALONG WITH THE OTHER FAKE ELECTORS.

DO YOU REGRET THAT DECISION?

>> YOU KNOW, I DON'T AND HERE'S WHY.

I DON'T REGRET IT BECAUSE WE MADE THAT -- IN THESE KINDS OF CASES, ESPECIALLY COMPLEX CASES LIKE THIS, AND CERTAINLY CASES INVOLVING WHAT WE THINK IS ONE OF THE GRAVEST CRIMES THAT YOU CAN COMMIT, WHICH IS A CRIME AGAINST DEMOCRACY AND AGAINST YOUR COUNTRY.

WHEN YOU HAVE A CASE LIKE THAT, YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU DO EVERYTHING BY THE BOOK, RIGHT?

AND THE INFORMATION AT TIME SUGGESTS THAT WE STOPPED WITH THE 18 INDIVIDUALS WHO WE INDICTED, AND THAT'S WHAT WE DID.

THAT'S WHAT WE DID.

WE'RE GOING TO KEEP GOING WITH THIS CASE, AND WE CONTINUE TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE CASE THAT WE HAVE.

TED: DO YOU FEEL GOOD EVEN THOUGH YOU DIDN'T GET THE INFORMATION YOU WERE LOOKING FOR FROM THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR WHO IS NO LONGER A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR?

>> YEAH, WE DIDN'T GET IT FROM MERRICK GARLAND AND JACK SMITH, OBVIOUSLY.

THAT WAS DISAPPOINTING.

I ASKED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS FOR THAT INFORMATION.

I EVEN ON THE LAST DAY THAT HE WAS IN OFFICE, I CALLED THE D.O.J.

I HAVEN'T SAID THAT BEFORE PUBLICLY, BUT I CALLED THE D.O.J.

ON HIS LAST DAY IN OFFICE TO TRY TO GET THROUGH TO HIM OR TRY TO REACH HIM OR HIS CHIEF OF STAFF.

DIDN'T GET ANYWHERE WITH IT.

WE THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO GIVE US THE WHOLE J6 MILE THAT THEY HAD, AND BECAUSE THAT INFORMATION COULD BE IMPORTANT TO OUR CASE.

OBVIOUSLY, WE DON'T THINK IT'S ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY, OBVIOUSLY, FOR US TO GO FORWARD.

WE THINK WE HAVE A STRONG CASE, BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN BOTH INCULPATORY AND EXCULPATORY.

IN OTHER WORDS, IT COULD HAVE HELPED ONE OR TWO OF THE DEFENDANTS.

MARK MEADOWS WAS THE PERSON WHO ACTUALLY ASKED THE JUDGE IN ARIZONA TO ORDER MERRICK GARLAND TO HAND THAT INFORMATION OVER TO EVERYONE, AND SO IT WAS THAT ORDER, AND THE JUDGE IN SUPERIOR COURT DID AGREE WITH MARK MEADOWS AND ORDERED THAT THAT INFORMATION BE GIVEN OVER, AND WE SENT THAT ORDER TO MERRICK GARLAND.

TED: SO LAST QUESTION, GOT A TIME FRAME?

THE INVESTIGATION STILL GOES ON, NOT AS QUICKLY AS YOU EXPECTED OR STILL ON THE SAME TRACK?

>> I THINK IT'S ROUGHLY ON THE SAME TRACK.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT A BUNCH OF MOTIONS THAT THE JUDGE HAS TO DEAL WITH, BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT A TRIAL STILL IN EARLY 2026.

TED: OKAY.

WELL, VERY BUSY TIMES.

WE THANK YOU FOR TAKING YOUR TIME OUT TO JOIN US ON "ARIZONA HORIZON" TO DISCUSS AN AWFUL LOT OF THINGS, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> ALWAYS, TED, THANK YOU.

TED: THANK YOU.

THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.