Mecham Sued by Arizona in Fight to Control Fund

The state of Arizona filed suit Thursday against former Gov. Evan Mecham, seeking to force him to relinquish the $80,000 protocol fund that was a centerpiece of his impeachment conviction.

The civil suit, filed in Maricopa County Superior Court, asks that Mecham be forced to give the state all of the money remaining in the account as of April 5, the day after he was removed from office by the state Senate.

But Mecham, who argues that the fund is private, said Thursday that he was sending out checks returning the money to the original contributors. “They’re being put in the mail as we speak,” he said.

A spokesman for Valley National Bank, which holds the fund, said the bank will not pay on the checks until it receives instructions from the court.

Atty. Gen. Bob Corbin, who filed the lawsuit, said: “We are saying this is state money.” He unsuccessfully prosecuted Mecham in criminal court on charges of concealing a $350,000 campaign loan.

Corbin and Gov. Rose Mofford decided to sue after Mecham rejected a state offer that would have allowed him to return the money after providing a full accounting of the funds and asking contributors if they wanted to give the money to charity.

The lawsuit said Mecham “has for financial gain knowingly exercised control over the protocol fund with the intent to deprive the Office of the Governor of control of those funds.”