Morning Poll: Should Taxpayers Continue to Pick Up Tab for Andrew Thomas Defense?

Disgraced former Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas already has blown through $100,000 in taxpayer money he was granted to defend himself in his upcoming state Bar ethics hearing, and he's getting more.On Friday, the county agreed to continue funding his defense after his attorney, Don Wilson, threatened to quit if...

By James King

June 27, 2011

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Disgraced former Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas already has blown through $100,000 in taxpayer money he was granted to defend himself in his upcoming state Bar ethics hearing, and he's getting more.

On Friday, the county agreed to continue funding his defense after his attorney, Don Wilson, threatened to quit if there wasn't a guarantee he'd get paid.

How much he was guarenteed is unknown -- Wilson didn't return our call last week.

However, according to emails first obtained by the Arizona Republic through a public records request, county officials discussed spending about $300,000 in taxpayer money on Thomas' defense.

We've asked before and we'll ask again: should taxpayers continue to pick up the tab for Thomas' defense?

Cast your vote below.

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