Amy Love, Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes’ chief of staff, resigned on Monday, just six months into Mayes’ term. Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs’ first six months have been full of even more turmoil, with multiple high-level staffers leaving within the first six months.
Mayes titled the press release announcing Love’s resignation, “Attorney General Mayes Announces Leadership Change.”
The brief statement read, in full:
Attorney General Kris Mayes today announced the resignation of Chief of Staff Amy Love. Ms. Love’s final day with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office will be August 7, 2023.
“Amy Love is an exceptional public servant, and I thank her for her service to the Attorney General’s Office and the State of Arizona,” said Attorney General Mayes. “I wish her all the best in her future endeavors.”
Love’s resignation came immediately after Jen Wright, former Election Integrity Unit civil attorney under Mayes’ predecessor Mark Brnovich, served Mayes and others in the office with a Notice of Claim to start a defamation lawsuit against them for telling the media that Wright had been fired. Wright has been unable to determine who told Arizona Republic reporter Robert Englen that she was fired. Wright produced documentation showing she resigned voluntarily, and no one ever approached her about resigning.
Love caused controversy at the State Capitol in May when she demanded more money for the Arizona Attorney General Office’s (AGO) budget, referencing a threat by Mayes to sue the legislature. State Senator Jake Hoffman (R-Queen Creek) shot back at her, pointing out that the Brnovich administration had requested less money and was satisfied with it.
“You’re looking at this entire pot of money and you have dollar signs in your eyes,” Hoffman said. “It just seems like you see a big pot of money and you wanna grab at it.”
