OPINION — According to Arizona law, a subpoena can be issued by the president of the Senate, the speaker of the House and the chairman of any committee. The Legislature has over 30 committees.
So, there are over 30 Republican legislators who, on their own and sole initiative, can compel the appearance of a witness or the production of documents. That’s well over half of all Republicans elected to serve in the Legislature.
There is no internal check on the exercise of this power. We are witnessing the blatant abuse of it, so blatant that it reinforces my belief that the legislative subpoena should be abolished, at both the state and federal level.
