Allister Adel, the controversial Maricopa County attorney, abruptly announced Monday her resignation from office.
Her departure, which takes effect Friday, comes amid reports that the official had been struggling with alcohol abuse and a lack of attendance at county meetings. Her actions prompted investigations by the State Bar of Arizona and the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.
“I am proud of the many accomplishments of the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office during my tenure, including policies that seek justice in a fair and equitable manner, hold violent offenders accountable, protect the rights of crime victims, and keep families safe,” Adel wrote in her announcement. “I want to thank the employees of the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. I value and respect the work and dedication you give to this office.”
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Adel had been facing intense scrutiny after an Arizona Republic investigation found she missed meetings, failed to weigh in on legal challenges, and made a troubling after-hours phone call while presumably intoxicated.
Adel acknowledged in September that she was seeking treatment for anxiety, alcohol abuse, and an anxiety disorder. She was discharged after 19 days in rehab, but some members of Adel’s leadership team continued to raise concerns about her sobriety.
Adel responded to the news outlet’s investigation in February by saying she was still working on her “journey.”
“I am not perfect, have never claimed to be perfect,” she wrote in a statement. “I am passionate about my vocation and will do everything possible to continue to bring professionalism and fairness to the office instead of conjecture and hearsay.”
The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office announced last week that it would not prosecute 180 misdemeanor charges because the office failed to press charges before the statute of limitations expired. This prompted a letter from Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich requesting Adel to explain what went wrong.
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“I am concerned that justice will not be secured for crime victims,” Brnovich wrote. “Additionally, the failure to pursue these charges has nullified the hard work of law enforcement agencies and the peace officers working these cases.”
Several top prosecutors called for Adel’s resignation, and Brnovich gave the office until March 31 to submit a report detailing the failures to prosecute the charges. The status of that report is unclear with Adel’s departure.
