The Nation - News from Jan. 11, 1988

The state grand jury that indicted Arizona Gov. Evan Mecham on six felony counts will take a few weeks off but has not concluded its investigation of him, Atty. Gen. Bob Corbin said in Phoenix. Mecham, who has maintained his innocence, prepared to open the 1988 Legislature with a State of the State address today. The six charges of willful concealment, perjury and filing a false report on campaign contributions focus on a $350,000 campaign loan from Tempe developer Barry Wolfson. Mecham also faces an impeachment inquiry and a recall drive. Investigators are reportedly looking at whether Mecham violated laws by lending money from a protocol fund to his car dealership and by telling state police bodyguards not to report an aide’s alleged threat against a former aide who had testified before the grand jury.