Maricopa County Attorney Allister Adel continues to resist calls to resign as she denies allegations of drinking on the job and not showing up for work.
Five division bosses in her office are among those who’ve called for Adel’s resignation. Her initial reply was that they should quit, if they don’t believe in her leadership.
Adel was less confrontational Tuesday on PBS’s Arizona Horizon.
“But I hope that I can work with [the] small group of staff members, five out of 1,000 employees, to regain their trust,” she said.
Adel sought treatment last year for an eating disorder and alcohol abuse. She said it’s unfortunate that nobody approached her one on one with specific concerns.
ABC 15 has reported that the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office hired a Superior Court judge to be a prosecutor while the judge was under investigation for major ethics violations.
Contact between former Judge Erin Otis and Adel while Otis sought a career change was brought up in the PBS interview.
Adel said her office did not know of the investigation.
“But once we were made aware, we put this person on administrative leave, and we’re conducting our own full investigation,” she said.
