'Embarrassing': MAGA prosecutor gets brutal smackdown in feud with AZ attorney general

The pro-Trump attorney of Pinal County, Arizona, is not backing down from his illegal efforts to criminally investigate a state senator from another county who posted the locations of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials — but his arguments aren't being well-received.

Last week, Brad Miller, who represents a largely rural and exurban area southeast of Phoenix, stated in a radio interview that he wanted the GOP-controlled state legislature to appoint him a special prosecutor to investigate Sen. Analise Ortiz, even though reporting on the locations of ICE agents isn't illegal.

State Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, responded with a furious letter warning him he had no authority to do this and demanding he explain himself.

"When you ran for Pinal County Attorney, your campaign platform included fighting 'extreme leftist ideologies,'" she wrote. "But now that you are the elected official you have a duty to execute your authority fairly and impartially. Why under A.R.S. § 12-751, would it not be an anti-SLAPP violation for you to initiate the investigation of a Democratic legislator given your campaign statements and current zealous interest to deter, prevent, or retaliate against Senator Ortiz from exercising her First Amendment Rights?"

Miller has now hit back with his own letter to the attorney general's office, accusing her of "embrac[ing] ideology over support for law enforcement" and doubling down on his plan.

"I represent the State of Arizona. A.R.S. § 11-532(A)(1). My authority extends to the entire State of Arizona. A.R.S. § 11-532(E). I am neither required nor will I ever ask your permission to handle a matter outside of Pinal County," he continued. "An investigation is meant to gather facts to determine if a crime was committed ... When leadership is absent, others will step in the [sic] fill the void. My offer to assist still stands."

This letter was promptly mocked by legal analyst and talk radio host Barry Markson.

"This is embarrassing to Brad Miller and anyone believing him," Markson posted to X. "@AZAGMayes was right to call him out on his self serving and silly request for the legislature to appoint him as a special prosecutor. Even the statute Miller cites, IN THIS LETTER, specifically limits his authority to the his county and nothing else. This is nothing more than an embarrassing political document, and the 'act tough' act may work with some MAGA folks, but this is truly pathetic."