♪.

TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

WE SPEAK WITH THE ARIZONA REPUBLICAN ATTORNEY GENERAL CANDIDATE, RODNEY GLASSMAN.

>>> ALSO TONIGHT, A CLOSER LOOK AT THE INDICTMENT OF FORMER FBI DIRECTOR JAMES COMEY.

>>> AND HEAR ABOUT A CONFERENCE FOCUSED ON BRINGING NATIONAL ATTENTION REGARDING ISSUES OF EXTREME HEAT.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

WE BEGIN TONIGHT'S SHOW WITH OUR AZ VOTES "CANDIDATES IN CONVERSATION."

AS WE HEAR FROM ONE OF THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL.

WE WELCOME RODNEY GLASSMAN, PRIVATE ATTORNEY WHO SERVES IN THE U.S.

AIR FORCE JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL CORPS RESERVES.

SENATE PRESIDENT WARREN PETERSEN IS ALSO RUNNING FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.

PETERSEN WAS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE TONIGHT BUT DECLINED THE INVITATION.

APPRECIATE YOU JOINING US.

WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR THIS OFFICE?

>> TED, I'M RUNNING FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL TO PROTECT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT, TO PROTECT OUR KIDS, AND TO PROTECT ARIZONA'S PROSPERITY.

ARIZONA IS IN A CRAZY PLACE RIGHT NOW.

AS YOU KNOW, PRESIDENT TRUMP WON ARIZONA BY OVER 5 PERCENTAGE POINTS IN 2024, BUT WE RIGHT NOW HAVE WHAT I DESCRIBE AS AN INSANE DEMOCRAT ATTORNEY GENERAL WHO SUED THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION 41 TIMES IN THE PAST 16 MONTHS, AND WE NEED AN ATTORNEY GENERAL THAT'S GOING TO BE MORE FOCUSED ON PROTECTING ARIZONANS.

THAT'S WHY I'M RUNNING.

>> GET RIGHT TO THAT.

I THINK IT'S 41 TIMES HERE, THE LATEST WITH THE I.C.E.

FACILITY IN SURPRISE.

WOULD YOU HAVE FOUGHT -- YOU WOULD NOT HAVE FOUGHT THE FEDS TURNING A WAREHOUSE INTO A HUMAN DETENTION CENTER?

>> WHAT I SAID CONSISTENTLY IS BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT KRIS MAYES RAN ON SUING PRESIDENT TRUMP, ON SUING TO MAKE SURE THAT BIOLOGICAL BOYS CAN COMPETE AGAINST GIRLS, TO CREATE WHAT I DESCRIBE AS A RESISTANCE RESUME, EVERYTHING IS SUSPECT BECAUSE OF THE FACT ALL SHE'S DOING IS ATTACKING OUR ARIZONA WAY OF LIFE.

TED: BUT THE QUESTION STANDS, WOULD HAVE YOU FOUGHT -- PEOPLE IN SURPRISE ARE NOT HAPPY WITH THIS AND NOW FUNDING IS PAUSED.

SHE HAS FILED SUIT AGAINST IT.

ONE THING TO SAY YOU SUPPORT THE PRESIDENT.

ANOTHER TO SAY THAT PARTICULAR IDEA IS NOT A GOOD ONE.

>> TED, ONE OF THE CHALLENGES KRIS MAYES HAS, AND I'LL ANSWER THE QUESTION, IS KRIS MAYES NEVER PRACTICED LAW.

I'M SURE YOU HIRED AN ATTORNEY BEFORE, AND SO MANY OF YOUR VIEWERS.

WHEN YOU HIRE AN ATTORNEY, NOT ALWAYS TO FILE A LAWSUIT.

SOMETIMES IT'S JUST TO WORK ON A SOLUTION.

SO AS ATTORNEY GENERAL, WHAT I WOULD HAVE DONE AND WHAT I WILL DO AS ATTORNEY GENERAL, ANY TIME THERE'S A CHALLENGE, WHERE THERE'S AN ISSUE THAT ARIZONA NEEDS AN ANSWER FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, I'M GOING TO PICK UP THE PHONE, AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM WE HAVE NOW.

EVERY TIME THAT KRIS MAYES FEELS SHE CAN RAISE MONEY, SHE FILES A LAWSUIT, SENDS OUT A PRESS RELEASE AND ASKS LIBERALS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO SEND HER MONEY.

I'LL GIVE A GOOD EXAMPLE.

TED: PLEASE.

>> I WAS IN MARICOPA COUNTY WITH JERRY SHERIDAN, TO A GREAT EXTENT THE BORDER IS SECURE, PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS DONE A GREAT JOB BUT VISITED THE YUMA MEDICAL CENTER, AND THE YUMA MEDICAL CENTER, DURING THE BIDEN SURGES, PROVIDED OVER $20 MILLION WORTH OF UNREIMBURSED SERVICES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO ILLEGALS.

IMAGINE IF WE HAD AN ATTORNEY GENERAL WHO, INSTEAD OF FILING LAWSUITS AND SENDING OUT PRESS RELEASES TO RAISE MONEY, ACTUALLY WORKED COLLABORATIVELY ON BEHALF OF ARIZONA, COULD CALL THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, HEY, YOU NEED TO RETURN THAT MONEY, PROVIDE THE RESOURCES BACK TO THE YUMA MEDICAL CENTER.

WE DON'T HAVE SOMEONE WORKING WITH EVERYONE.

WE HAVE SOMEONE WORKING TO FILE LAWSUITS TO RAISE MONEY TO RUN FOR HER NEXT OFFICE.

TED: WE HAVE SOMEONE WHO FILED A LAWSUIT REGARDING THE TRUMP EXECUTIVE ORDER TO LIMIT BALLOTS BY MAIL TO INTERFERE WITH ARIZONA'S MAIL-IN BALLOT LAW.

WAS IT WRONG TO GO AFTER THE ADMINISTRATION ON SOMETHING A LOT OF ARIZONANS FEEL IS FIRST OF ALL A RIGHT, SECONDLY IT'S THE LAW.

WHAT IS SHE SUPPOSED TO DO?

>> WHAT KRIS MAYES SHOULD BE DOING IS WORKING ON BEHALF OF ARIZONANS.

NOT JUST FILING LAWSUITS, SENDING OUT PRESS RELEASES.

TED: IS FILING LAWSUITS NOT WORKING ON BEHALF OF ARIZONANS?

>> IT'S NOT BECAUSE SHE'S NOT SUCCESSFUL WITH THE LAWSUITS.

THE ONLY THING SHE'S SUCCESSFUL WITH IS FUND-RAISING.

TED, WE'RE IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, I'M A LIEUTENANT COLONEL IN THE U.S.

J.A.G.

CORPS, I'M A RESERVIST AT LUKE AIR FORCE BASE.

I RUN THE ACTIVE DUTY LEGAL OFFICE OF OVER 25 J.A.G.

PARALEGALS AND SUPPORT STAFF.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL RUNS THE LARGEST OFFICE IN THE STATE, 1000 ATTORNEYS PROVIDING ALL THE SERVICES FOR THE STATE.

IF KRIS MAYES FOCUSED ON HELPING EDUCATION, ROOTING OUT WASTE, FRAUD AND ABUSE WITH THE 60 INVESTIGATORS SHE HAS, INSTEAD OF SENDING THEM TO FLORIDA TO INVESTIGATE AN 85-YEAR-OLD MAYOR RUDY GIULIANI BECAUSE OF THE 2020 ELECTION, I BELIEVE SHE WOULD BE DOING A BETTER JOB OF SERVING ARIZONANS AND THAT'S WHY I WANT TO FIRE HER IN NOVEMBER.

TED: YOU JUST SAID SHE NEVER WINS, SHE JUST WON AS FAR AS STATE VOTER REGISTRATION ROLLS.

>> MY WIFE SAYS NEVER SAY NEVER.

41 LAWSUITS FILED, SHE HAS A LOSING RECORD.

HERE'S ONE OF THE CHALLENGES, TED, WE FUND HER LAWSUITS.

THE ARIZONA STATE LEGISLATURE, LED BY MY PRIMARY OPPONENT, WHO REFUSED TO SHOW UP TONIGHT, SENDS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE MONEY SO SHE CAN FILE THE LAWSUITS, AND WHEN THEY FAIL, WHEN HER INDICTMENTS FALL, YOU KNOW WHAT SHE DOES?

REFILES THEM AGAIN.

SHE'S BEEN MILKING THE ARIZONA TAXPAYER IN ORDER TO FUND RAYS FOR HER CAMPAIGN, AND THAT'S THE CHALLENGE.

I'LL GO BACK TO YOUR QUESTION, AS ATTORNEY GENERAL, I WILL WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, REPRESENTING ARIZONANS.

SHE RAN ON SUING TRUMP.

SHE RAN ON FIGHTING TO MAKE SURE THAT BIOLOGICAL BOYS --.

TED: OKAY, WE GOT THAT, AND WE CAN DEBATE THE IDEA OF A LOSING RECORD THERE, BUT WE DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THAT BECAUSE I WANT TO ASK YOU A BASIC QUESTION, YOU ARE OBVIOUSLY VERY SUPPORTIVE OF DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT TRUMP.

I GOT TO ASK YOU, ARE ELECTIONS IN ARIZONA RIGGED?

WAS THE 2020 ELECTION IN ARIZONA RIGGED SO THAT DONALD TRUMP COULD NOT WIN THE PRESIDENCY?

>> TED, WHEN I VISIT GROUPS ACROSS ARIZONA, I ASK ONE QUESTION, AND I ASK IT EVERYWHERE I GO, DO YOU THINK THAT ARIZONA CURRENTLY ENFORCES THE ELECTION LAWS THAT ARE ON THE BOOKS?

AND THE ANSWER EVERYWHERE I GO IS NO.

DID YOU KNOW BALLOT HARVESTING IN ARIZONA IS ILLEGAL?

>> I DO KNOW THAT.

>> DROP BOXES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE MONITORED.

TED: I ASKED YOU A QUESTION REGARDING THE 2020 ELECTION.

>> WE'LL NEVER KNOW.

TED: WHY WON'T WE NEVER KNOW.

>> BECAUSE THE ONLY PERSON THAT COULD HAVE OPENED AN INVESTIGATION IN 2020 SECURED THE BALLOTS, SECURED THE ELECTION MATERIALS, NOT HAD ISSUES WITH CHAIN OF CUSTODY AND DONE AN INVESTIGATION WOULD HAVE BEEN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, TED.

2006, YOU REMEMBER IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA A REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY ELECTION, AND DOWN THERE, IT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO PASS.

THERE WAS POLLING.

AND THE POLLING SAID IT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO PASS AND AT THE LAST-MINUTE IT DID, AND DEMOCRATS IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA, THEY CRIED ELECTION FRAUD.

WHO DID THEY CALL?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, WHO CAME DOWN TO SOUTHERN ARIZONA, WHO SECURED THE BALLOTS, RERAN THE ELECTION, WHAT WAS THE NAME OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IN 2006?

LARRY GODDARD.

FOLLOW THE RULES.

>> GO BACK TO THE IDEA, I ASK THE REPUBLICANS A LOT, BECAUSE IT'S ALMOST A LITMUS TEST NOW.

YOU CAN'T SAY DONALD TRUMP LOST ARIZONA IN 2020.

>> THAT WASN'T THE QUESTION YOU ASKED.

YOU SAID WAS THE ELECTION STOLEN, I ASKED YOU THE QUESTION WHOSE JOB WAS IT?

WE WILL NEVER KNOW, TED, BECAUSE THE ONLY PERSON THAT COULD HAVE OPENED AN INVESTIGATION, SECURED THE BALLOTS, AND ROOTED THAT OUT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, WHO DIDN'T DO HIS JOB, BUT BRINGS UP A GOOD ISSUE.

IF WE HAVE AN ATTORNEY GENERAL LIKE KRIS MAYES OR ATTORNEY GENERAL LIKE MY CURRENT PRIMARY OPPONENT WARREN PETERSEN, NEITHER HAVE SERVE AS A PROSECUTOR, AND THAT'S A CHALLENGE BECAUSE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS A PROSECUTOR.

TED: THIS IS A PRIMARY ELECTION, YOU ARE RUNNING AGAINST WARREN PETERSEN HERE.

WHY SHOULD REPUBLICAN VOTERS TRUST SOMEONE WHO CAN'T EVEN ADMIT TO AN ELECTION RESULT THAT HAS BEEN CHALLENGED SO MANY TIMES, THERE'S NEVER BEEN ANY PROOF THAT THERE WAS A RIGGED ELECTION IN ARIZONA.

ZERO.

NONE.

>> TED, THERE WAS NO INVESTIGATION.

TED: YOU CAN'T WITH INFORMATION WROUGHT WITH -- >> THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DID NOT OPEN INVESTIGATION, DID NOT SECURE THE BALLOT.

TED: WHY DO YOU THINK HE DID NOT?

>> HE'S REPUBLICAN RUNNING FOR UNITED STATES SENATE.

TED: HE'S A REPUBLICAN ATTORNEY GENERAL.

>> HE WAS RUNNING FOR UNITED STATES SENATE.

TED, MAY HE REST IN PEACE, HE'S A GOOD MAN.

HIS WIFE IS A VERY DECORATED JUDGE, TWO WONDERFUL DAUGHTERS.

YOU ASKED AND MY RESPONSE IS WE WILL NEVER KNOW.

TED: YOU WILL NEVER KNOW THE ELECTION RESULTS.

>> NO, YOU ASKED WAS IT STOLEN?

I SAID WE WILL NEVER KNOW BECAUSE NO ONE EVER DID AN INVESTIGATION.

TED: BECAUSE -- I CAN'T OPEN AN INVESTIGATION ON WHETHER OR NOT YOU COME FROM MARS.

>> RIGHT, YOU KNOW WHY?

BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL BUT KRIS MAYES, THE CURRENT ATTORNEY GENERAL DOES.

TED: I CANNOT SHOW YOU COME FROM MARS, YOU HAVE TO SHOW EVIDENCE.

>> HOW DO YOU GET EVIDENT, TED?

TED: YOU DO AN INVESTIGATION.

>> YOU ARE THE PERSON IN CHARGE OF INVESTIGATING AND PROSECUTING AN ELECTION.

TED: YOU CAN'T SAY DONALD TRUMP LOST THE 2020 ELECTION.

>> IT WAS CERTIFIED.

YOU ASKED IF IT WAS STOLEN, I SAID WE'LL NEVER KNOW.

TED: ASKING WHY YOU ARE RUNNING FOR THIS PARTICULAR OFFICE.

WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS BEFORE, YOU'VE RUN FOR CORPORATION COMMISSION, MARICOPA COUNTY ASSESSOR, ATTORNEY GENERAL IN 2020, YOU RAN AGAINST JOHN McCAIN AS A DEMOCRAT YEARS AGO.

YOU WERE A DEMOCRAT UNTIL 2015, WHY ARE YOU NOW A REPUBLICAN?

>> LIKE PRESIDENT TRUMP, LIKE PRESIDENT REAGAN, AND LIKE COUNTLESS OF YOUR VIEWERS, I'M SURE, I LEFT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

I STUDIED AND WENT TO LAW SCHOOL AT UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA, AND THE DEMOCRAT PARTY THEY WAS A PART OF IN 2010 HAS GONE INSANE.

THEIR CURRENT ATTORNEY GENERAL IS BUSY FILING LAWSUITS SO BIOLOGICAL BOYS CAN COMPETE AGAINST GIRLS.

THAT'S NOT A PARTY I WAS PART OF.

DURING THAT SAME PERIOD, GOIT MARRIED, HAD TWO DAUGHTERS, SERVED IN THE MILITARY, NOW LIEUTENANT COLONEL AT LUKE, AND ON JUNE 16, 2015, THE DAY THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP ANNOUNCED, I REGISTERED REPUBLICAN, AND I'M PROUD TO BE REPUBLICAN, AND I HOPE MORE ARIZONANS WILL FOCUS ON THE FACT THAT WE NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON PROTECTING ARIZONA'S LAW ENFORCEMENT, OUR KIDS AND OUR PROSPERITY, AND THOSE ARE RIGHT NOW REPUBLICAN PRIORITIES.

>> LAST QUESTION, REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, REPUBLICAN VOTERS HAVE A CHOICE, EITHER THE PRESIDENT OF THE STATE SENATE OR YOU.

WHY SHOULD THEY CHOOSE YOU OVER HIM?

>> TED, I'M A LIEUTENANT COLONEL IN THE J.A.G.

CORE AS A RESERVIST, PRACTICING ATTORNEY FOR 20 YEARS.

MY REPUBLICAN PRIMARY OPPONENT, WARREN PETERSEN, WHO'S 50 YEARS OLD, GOT HIS LAW LICENSE 28 MONTHS AGO.

NEVER HAD A CLIENT, NEVER PROSECUTED A CRIMINAL.

HE DOESN'T CARRY ERRORS AND OMISSIONS INSURANCE.

IF REPUBLICANS NOMINATE A CANDIDATE WITH ZERO EXPERIENCE AS A LAWYER TO RUN AGAINST KRIS MAYES, THE ONLY THING WE'RE GOING TO GET IS FOUR MORE YEARS OF KRIS MAYES AND WE CANNOT AFFORD THAT HERE IN ARIZONA.

TED: RODNEY GLASSMAN, REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

TED: AND OUR NEXT AZ VOTES "CANDIDATES IN CONVERSATION" IS SET FOR TUESDAY, AS WE HEAR FROM CANDIDATES RUNNING IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY FOR ARIZONA'S 1st CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, TUESDAY MAY 5 AT 5:00 P.M.

AND AGAIN AT 10:00 P.M.

ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

ALL EPISODES OF "CANDIDATES IN CONVERSATION" ARE LIVESTREAMED ON YouTube AND AZPBS NOW AND CAN BE VIEWED AT AZPBS.ORG.

.

TED: FORMER FBI DIRECTOR JAMES COMEY WAS INDICTED THIS WEEK BY IT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, THE FEDERAL GRAND JURY CHARGED COMEY AGAINST MAKING A THREAT AGAINST PRESIDENT TRUMP AND TRANSMITTING IT ACROSS STATE LINES.

IT INVOLVES A PHOTO OF SEA SHELLS ON THE BEACH SPELLING OUT THE NUMBERS 86 AND 47.

FOR MORE ON THIS, WE WELCOME IN PAUL CHARLTON, A PARTNER OF THE LAW FIRM OF DENTONS.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

TED: THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME HE'S BEEN INDICTED BY THIS PARTICULAR JUSTICE DEPARTMENT.

>> IT ISN'T, TED, THAT VERY FACT IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE DEFENSES, WHICH I THINK IS GOING TO CARRY A GREAT DEAL OF MERIT.

THIS LOOKS VERY MUCH LIKE SELECTIVE OR VINDICTIVE PROSECUTION, THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF CALLS BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES THAT JIM COMEY BE CHARGED WITH SOME OFFENSE, ANY OFFENSE, HE DID THAT WITH THE PREVIOUS ATTORNEY GENERAL, PAM BONDI, DOING IT NOW WITH TODD BLANCHE, ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL.

SO THE PROSECUTION RECEIVED A GREAT DEAL OF CRITICISM BECAUSE THIS IS A FOLLOW-UP PROSECUTION FOR WHEN IT'S ALREADY BEEN DISMISSED AND CRITICISM COMING FROM THE RIGHT, NOT JUST FROM THE LEFT.

YOUR VIEWERS MAY RECOGNIZE THE NAME ANDREW McCARTHY WHO WRITES FOR THE NATIONAL REVIEW OR JONATHAN TURLEY ON FOX NEWS, THEY ARE COMMENTATORS, LAWYERS THEMSELVES, BOTH HAVE BEEN HIGHLY CRITICAL OF THIS PROSECUTION, WITH JONATHAN TURLEY CALLING IT SPECIOUS.

TED: HELP ME MAKE SENSE OF THIS NOW, SEA SHELLS ON THE SHORE AND SOMEONE WRITES OUT 86 AND THEN 47.

DID COMEY ARRANGE THE SHELLS?

>> WE DONE KNOW IF HE ARRANGED THE SHELLS.

HE SAW THE SHELLS ARRANGED, TOOK A PICTURE AND POSTED THE PICTURE.

THAT'S HIS NARRATIVE, WHICH, BY THE WAY FOR THE LAST YEAR HAS BEEN WHOLLY CONSISTENT, IN ADDITION TO THAT FACT, TED, WHAT JIM COMEY SAID IS I HAD NO IDEA THAT 86 MEANT THAT YOU SHOULD DO HARM OR KILL ANYBODY.

I THOUGHT IT MEANT GET RID OF.

MY WIFE THOUGHT IT MEANT SOMETHING IN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY.

SHE WORKED IN THE RESTAURANTS, THAT'S WHAT WE UNDERSTOOD IT TO MEAN.

I HAD NO INTENT, AND THAT QUESTION, INTENT, OF THE PERSON SPEAKING, IN THIS CASE IT'S NUMBERS AND SYMBOLS, THE INTENT ISSUE IS CRITICAL FOR A JURY IF IT EVER GETS TO A JURY.

TED: SO THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SAID A, QUOTE, REASONABLE PERSON WOULD SEE THAT THIS IS A, QUOTE, SERIOUS EXPRESSION OF INTENT TO DO HARM TO PRESIDENT TRUMP.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT?

>> IT'S INTERESTING, ISN'T IT, TED, THAT'S STANDARD, WHAT A REASONABLE PERSON SEEING THAT WOULDN'T THINK ISN'T THE STANDARD.

THE STANDARD IS, AND THE SUPREME COURT SAID IN 2023 IN A CASE CALLED COUNTERMEN, THE STANDARD ISN'T WHAT WE SEE AND DECIDE IT MEANS, IT'S WHAT THE PERSON SHARING THE STATEMENT MEANT AND INTENDED.

IN THIS INSTANCE, THE GOVERNMENT HAS TO PROVE BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT TO UNANIMOUS VERDICT IS THAT JIM COMEY KNEW THAT PEOPLE WOULD INTERPRET 8647 AS A THREAT TO KILL OR HARM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND EVEN KNOWING THAT, HE SENT THIS OUT AND SHARED THIS COMMENT WITH PEOPLE.

THAT'S GOING TO BE A VERY DIFFICULT BURDEN FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO MEET.

TED: AND GOVERNMENT TRIES TO MEET THAT BURDEN, THE PRESIDENT'S OWN WORDS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY COME TO JAMES COMEY, HOW MUCH DO THOSE WORDS COME INTO PLAY?

>> GREAT DEAL BECAUSE THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES NOT ONLY PROTECTS THE KIND OF FREE SPEECH THAT MAY BE INVOLVED HERE, POLITICAL SPEECH, I DON'T WANT THIS TO BE OUR NEXT PRESIDENT, NOT BECAUSE I WISH HARM UPON HIM BUT I WISH SOMEBODY ELSE WAS IN OFFICE, BUT FREE SPEECH RELATES TO WHAT WE'RE ALLOWED TO SAY AND DO AND OUGHT NOT TO BE PROSECUTED FOR WHAT WE SAY PUBLICLY.

WHAT HAPPENS IS THE PRESIDENT OFTEN SAID I WANT THIS INDIVIDUAL PROSECUTED.

HE HAS TARGETED, SELECTED THIS PERSON FOR PROSECUTION, AND IT IS IN MANY WAYS AND MANY COMMENTATORS BELIEVE VINDICTIVE.

THAT IN AND OF ITSELF IS A REASON FOR THE COURT TO DISMISS THIS CASE WELL BEFORE IT GETS TO A JURY.

TED: WHAT ABOUT THE REPEATED REFERENCES THAT JAMES COMEY IS A DIRTY COP, THE PRESIDENT LIKES TO USE THAT PHRASE, DOES IT COME INTO PLAY?

>> AND SOMETHING THAT MAY COME INTO PLAY, AND INSIDE BASEBALL, THE PROSECUTORS HERE ASKED FOR AN ARREST WARRANT, AND WHEN YOU ASK FOR ARREST WARRANT, YOU ARE ALLOWED TO DO SO FOR TWO REASONS.

ONE, YOU BELIEVE THE INDIVIDUAL IS A FLIGHT THREAT, GOING TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY SOMEHOW OR A THREAT TO THE COMMUNITY.

NEITHER OF THOSE CAN BE SAID TO BE TRUE FOR JIM COMEY.

WANTED TO ISSUE AN ARREST WARRANT IN ADDITION TO SUMMONS, IN ADDITION TO FACING COURT IS THE KIND OF EVIDENCE HIS LAWYERS ARE GOING TO PUT BEFORE THE JUDGE TO SAY THIS ISN'T THE KIND OF PROSECUTION THAT TAKES PLACE WHEN SOMEONE IS REASONABLY TRYING TO STOP AS WE ALL WANT SOMEONE TO STOP, BUT TRUE THREATS TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

TED: THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT IN GENERAL WITH THIS PARTICULAR ACTION, IS THIS LITERALLY A JOB APPLICATION?

A RESUME FOR TODD BLANCHE.

IS HE PROVING TO THE PRESIDENT HE WILL DO THE PRESIDENT'S BIDDING?

>> FEELS VERY MUCH THAT WAY.

THERE WAS A PRESS CONFERENCE WHERE TODD BLANCHE SAID IF I WERE ASKED TO BE THE NEXT ATTORNEY GENERAL IN A PERMANENT FASHION, I WOULD SAY YES, AND I LOVE YOU, MR.

PRESIDENT.

THOSE ARE WORDS WE DON'T HEAR FROM PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES, BUT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR GRAVITAS, SOMEONE WHO CAN BE DISTANT FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

YOU WANT A DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE THAT IS RELATIVELY INDEPENDENT AND MAKE DECISIONS NOT BASED UPON AFFECTION FOR A PRESIDENT.

NOT BASED UPON POLITICAL AFFILIATION FOR THE PRESIDENT, BUT BASED UPON THE FACTS AND THE LAW, AND AS IT RELATES TO JIM COMEY, WE'VE SEEN REPEATEDLY THAT'S NOT WHAT'S HAPPENING.

>> COUPLE DOZEN FOLKS DECIDED IN A FEDERAL GRAND JURY DECIDED THERE WAS ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO CHARGE COMEY.

WHAT DO WE MAKE OF THAT?

>> VERY INTERESTING POINT, TED.

THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO MAKE A CASE AGAINST LETITIA JAMES, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF NEW YORK.

THE GRAND JURY SAID NO, THERE IS A STATEMENT GRAND JURIES WILL INDICT A HAM SANDWICH.

THAT'S NOT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA AND WASHINGTON.

VERY INTERESTING TO SEE, WON'T IT, WHAT THE TRANSCRIPTS SHOW, HOW IT IS THESE PROSECUTORS PRESENTED THE EVIDENCE IN SUCH A WAY AS TO CONVINCE THE GRAND JURORS THAT JIM COMEY WAS DESERVING THE PROSECUTION.

TED: PAUL CHARLTON, FORMER U.S.

ATTORNEY.

THIS IS FASCINATING STUFF.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME, TED.

.

TED: PHOENIX IS SET TO HOST NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HANDLING HEAT-RELATED ISSUES, THE EVENT IS TITLED THE 122-DEGREE CONFERENCE, AND IT'S SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER WITH THE GOAL OF FINDING SOLUTIONS TO HEAT EFFECTS ON HEALTH, HOUSING AND ENERGY COSTS.

JOINING US IS TAYLOR PINEDA WITH THE ARIZONA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

WELCOME INTO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

>> THANK YOU.

TED: 122-DEGREE CONFERENCE SET FOR PHOENIX, THANKFULLY IN DECEMBER.

GOOD IDEA.

THE CONFERENCE IS ABOUT WHAT?

>> I TRIED TO CONVINCE THEM TO DO IT IN JUNE, BUT I LOST THAT.

SO THE 122 CONVENING IS ABOUT MOBILIZING THE COMMUNITY TO ADDRESS ISSUES OF EXTREME HEAT.

WE KNOW ISSUES OF EXTREME HEAT IMPACT EVERYONE, AND THESE ISSUES ARE PREVALENT ACROSS OUR ENTIRE STATE.

WE HAVE WONDERFUL COMMUNITY LEADERS WORKING IN NONPROFITS AS WELL AS TRIBAL COMMUNITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES ARE ALL TRYING TO TACKLE ISSUES, BUT WHAT WE'RE FINDING IS THAT THEIR LACKS COHESION IN HOW WE'RE LOOKING AT ADDRESSING THIS.

THE CONVENIENCE ABOUT BRINGING ALL THESE PEOPLE TOGETHER ARE WORKING ON GREAT WORK AND BRINGING THEM TO SPACE TO SHARE KNOWLEDGE, RESOURCES AND ALIGN INVESTMENT, TO SCALE THE SOLUTIONS.

>> IS THERE A NATIONAL ASPECT BRINGING PEOPLE OUT HERE.

WE KNOW OUR HEAT IN ARIZONA.

>> YES, YES, ABSOLUTELY.

TWO WAYS WE'RE APPROACHING NATIONAL COLLABORATION.

ONE, THERE ARE DESERT CLIMATES ACROSS THE ENTIRE WORLD.

HOW DO WE LOOK AT PRACTICES WHETHER IT BE THE EUROPEAN UNION OR COLLEAGUES IN MEXICO THAT HAVE ADDRESSED URBAN PLANNING IN MEXICO CITY.

HOW DO YOU SHARE SOME OF THOSE LEARNINGS AND HAVE THEM PARTICIPATE IN THE CONFERENCE ALONGSIDE OUR LOCAL LEADERS.

TRYING TO BRING THAT BALANCE OF THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL EXPERTISE ALONGSIDE OUR LOCAL LEADERS AND KNOW THAT THERE IS A GAP OF FUNDING TACKLING THESE ISSUES IN ARIZONA, SO WE'RE WORKING WITH THE NATIONAL FOUNDATION TO BRING THEM INTO THE CONVERSATION AS WELL.

TED: IT'S NOT ACADEMIC, IT'S REAL LIFE, EVERYDAY LIFE.

HEAT IMPACT ON PUBLIC HEALTH ESPECIALLY WITH THOSE WHO ARE LEAST ABLE TO ADAPT?

>> YES.

SO HEALTH IMPACTS MANY OF OUR DIFFERENT FOCUS AREAS WE HAVE AT ARIZONA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION.

WE'VE SEEN INCREASE IN EXTREME HEAT-RELATED DEATHS ACROSS ARIZONA.

PART OF THE FOCUS IS TALKING ABOUT APPROACHES TO ADDRESSING ISSUES OF URBAN HEAT, AND SOME OF OUR PARTNERS WE'RE WORKING WITH WHETHER IT BE THE DESERT BOTANICAL GARDENS OR THE NATURE CONSERVANCY HAVE BEEN DOING GREAT WORK, AND HOW DO WE BRING THEM TOGETHER WITH CHIEF RESILIENCY OFFICERS AND THE I-10 CORRIDOR WITH DIFFERENT STATES ADDRESSING SIMILAR ISSUES TOO.

TED: WATER SECURITY, FOOD ISSUES.

HEAT IS FACTOR THERE AS WELL, CORRECT?

>> EXACTLY.

THAT'S ONE REASON WE WANT TO FOCUS ON THE UMBRELLA OF EXTREME HEAT.

SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS, NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION, IT IMPACTS EVERYBODY.

YOU CAN'T JUST LOOK AT IT HOW DO WE MAKE IT COOLER BUT HOW DO WE HAVE AGRICULTURE, AND SYSTEMS THAT ARE SUSTAINABLE FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.

TED: AND AGAIN THE CONFERENCE SOUNDS LIKE HOW BEST TO TURN SOME OF THE IDEAS INTO IMPACT, CORRECT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND HOW DO YOU ATTRACT INVESTMENT TO DO SO?

ONE OF THE THINGS ARIZONA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION BEGAN A COUPLE YEARS AGO, WE'VE BEEN AROUND FOR 47 YEARS DOING GREAT WORK, BUT ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE HAD IS HOW ARE WE MOVING THE NEEDLE TO OUTCOME IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA?

SO THE ENVIRONMENTAL PILLAR HAS GIVEN US AN OPPORTUNITY TO IDENTIFY KEY ISSUES THAT WE WANT TO SEE MOVING FORWARD, BUT WHAT WE HEAR A LOT FROM DONORS AND AT A NATIONAL LEVEL IS ARIZONA DOESN'T HAVE NECESSARILY THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR LARGE SCALE INVESTMENTS.

WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS WE HAVE SO MANY GREAT THINGS HAPPENING AROUND THE COMMUNITY, BUT THERE'S A CHANCE TO BRING THEM TOGETHER TO BE READY TO RECEIVE.

TED: THAT INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE RELIABILITY OF THAT INFRASTRUCTURE.

LAST QUESTION, 15, 20 SECONDS HERE.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE COME OUT OF THIS?

>> I WANT TO SEE PEOPLE FROM ALL DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE IN ARIZONA WHETHER IT BE MUNICIPALITIES, LOCAL GRASSROOTS, LARGE INCREDIBLE INSTITUTIONS THINKING ABOUT COLLECTIVE IMPACT AND COLLECTIVE SOLUTIONS, NOT JUST FROM ONE VANTAGE POINT BUT A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN PERSPECTIVE.

TED: TAYLOR PINEDA, ARIZONA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

TED: AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.