[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON MARICOPA COUNTY ATTORNEY ALLISTER ADEL ABOUT HER ISSUES WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND CORRESPONDING CONCERNS OVER HER JOB PERFORMANCE.

AND LATER IN THE HOUR ON "BREAK IT DOWN," CONCERNS OVER HARASSMENT OF WOMEN IN THE ONLINE GAMING WORLD.

THAT'S ALL AHEAD IN THE NEXT HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS.

>>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

PRESIDENT BIDEN TODAY ANNOUNCED A U.S. BAN ON, RUSSIAN OIL AND NATURAL GAS >> TODAY I'M ANNOUNCING THE UNITED STATES IS TARGETING THE MAIN ARTERY OF RUSSIA'S ECONOMY.

WE'RE BANNING ALL IMPORTS OF RUSSIAN OIL AND GAS AND ENERGY.

THAT MEANS RUSSIAN OIL WILL NO LONGER BE ACCEPTABLE AT U.S.

PORTS.

>>> THE MOVE COMES AS THE PRICE OF OIL HAS ALREADY SKYROCKETED.

RUSSIA ACCOUNTS FOR JUST 3% OF U.S. OIL IMPORTS, BUT EUROPE, ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT IT WILL CUT GAS IMPORTS BY TWO-THIRDS THIS YEAR, ALL IN REACTION TO RUSSIAN'S INVASION OF UKRAINE.

>> TODAY WE REMAIN UNITED IN OUR PURPOSE TO KEEP PRESSURE MOUNTING ON PUTIN AND HIS WAR MACHINE.

THIS IS A STEP WE'RE TAKING TO INFLICT FURTHER PAIN ON PUTIN.

BUT THERE WILL BE COSTS HERE AS WELL.

>> THE AVERAGE PRICE OF GAS IN ARIZONA IS AT $4.13 A GALLON, WITH THE NATIONAL AVERAGE AT $4.07.

THOSE NUMBERS REFLECT AN INCREASE OF CLOSE TO $0.50 A GALLON.

>>> AS FOR THE WAR IN UKRAINE, RUSSIA CONTINUES TO ADVANCE ITS FORCES TO THE SOUTH AND TO A LESSER DEGREE TO THE EAST.

RUSSIAN FORCES CONTINUE TO ADVANCE AND APPEAR TO BE FOCUSED ON ISOLATING MAJOR CITIES AND URBAN AREAS >>> AND LOCAL NEWS, THE GOVERNMENT GOVERNMENTOR'S ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCED THAT IT WILL SPEND MORE THAN $10 MILLION ON THE GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGNS.

GOVERNOR DUCEY IS CO-CHAIR OF THE REPUBLICAN GROUP.

HE IS LEAVING OFFICE DUE TO TERM LIMITS.

THE ADVERTISING BUYS ARE RESERVED FOR A DAY AFTER THE PRIMARY UP UNTIL THE GENERAL ELECTION.

>>> MARICOPA COUNTY ATTORNEY ALLISTER ADEL HAS BEEN UNDER FIRE OVER CLAIMS THAT HER ALCOHOL AND EATING DISORDERS AND HER TREATMENT FOR THOSE DISORDERS HAVE EFFECTED HER JOB PERFORMANCE.

EARLIER TODAY WE SPOKE TO ALLISTER ADEL ABOUT CLAIMS THAT SHE HAS LOSS THE TRUST OF HER STAFF AND PUBLIC.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE ACH APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

FIRST OF ALL, HOW ARE YOU DOING?

>> I'M GOOD.

I'M HAPPY.

I'M HEALTHY.

LOVING LIFE EVERY SINGLE DAY, AND JUST FEELING VERY BLESSED >> YOU WERE STREETTREATED FOR ALCOHOL AND EATING DISORDERS, ARE YOU STILL IN TREATMENT?

>> YOU ARE ALWAYS IN TREATMENT.

THIS IS A LIFELONG JOURNEY.

BUT I'M WORKING MY PROGRAM.

I HAVE A GREAT SUPPORT TEAM AROUND ME.

NOT JUST MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS, BUT PEOPLE IN THE PROGRAM, AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, AND THIS IS A LIFE-LONG JOURNEY, AND I'M DOING REALLY WELL.

>> THE TREATMENT AND DISORDERS, HOW HAVE THEY EFFECTED YOUR JOB, AND HOW YOU PERFORM YOUR JOB IN >> IT HASN'T EFFECTED MY JOB PERFORMANCE.

YOU KNOW, REALLY WHAT PEOPLE DON'T SEE IN THIS -- AND PEOPLE ARE SO FOCUSED ON THE ALCOHOLISM, AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M IN A POSITION THAT I CAN BRING LIGHT TO THIS ISSUE, THAT THERE IS NO SHAME ASSOCIATED WITH IT, BUT THE OTHER PART IS THE EATING DISORDER PART.

I GOT VERY GOOD AT MAKING IT LOOK LIKE IT WAS EATING, AND IT TOOK A TOLL ON MY BODY.

AND FOR YOUNG WOMEN, MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN, IF WE CAN JUST HAVE THE CONVERSATION, I HOPE IT CAN HELP AT LEAST ONE PERSON.

>> THAT SAID, THE STATE BAR IS INVESTIGATING YOU.

THERE ARE ALLEGATIONS THAT YOU CONDUCTED BUSINESS WHILE IMPAIRED.

ARE THOSE ALLEGATIONS TRUE?

>> THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY FALSE?

>> NEVER -- YOU HAVEN'T BEEN IMPAIRED ON THE JOB?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

I TAKE MY JOB DUTY VERY, VERY SERIOUSLY, SO THOSE ARE ABSOLUTE I WILL FALSE.

I UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS, BECAUSE PRIOR TO THIS POSITION, I SERVED ON THE STATE BAR ETHICS COMMITTEE, AND THEY HAVE A DUTY TO INVESTIGATE, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THEIR INVESTIGATION AND COOPERATEING FULLY WITH THEM.

>> AND WHY SO MANY ABSENCES AND WHY FOR SO LONG?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

IT WAS AROUND THANKSGIVING, CHRISTMAS, FAMILY OBLIGATIONS RELATED TO THAT, AND UNFORTUNATELY, MY ENTIRE FAMILY GOT COVID AND NOT AT THE SAME TIME, SO THAT TOOK ME AWAY QUITE A BIT IN JANUARY.

BUT I WAS ALWAYS AVAILABLE ON THE PHONE, ZOOM CONFERENCING, DESPITE I WASN'T THERE EVERY DAY, BUT I WAS THERE FROM TIME TO TIME.

>> IT SOUND S LIKE YOUR STAFF AND THE FOLKS YOU WORK WITH, THEY SAY THEY NEEDED YOU.

FIVE TOP PROSECUTORS VOO -- HAVE URGED YOU TO RESIGN BECAUSE OF CONCERNS, AND ONE OF THOSE IS BECAUSE THERE IS CONCERNS THAT YOU ARE STILL IS STRUGGLING WITH ALCOHOL.

>> THAT IS MISINFORMATION, AND FRANKLY FALSEHOODS.

I HAVE BEEN IN THE OFFICE, AND WE WERE ALSO UNDER COVID RESTRICTIONS.

WE WERE ON A SKELETON SCALE OF PEOPLE NOT COMING IN, YET I WOULD COME IN AS WELL.

BUT I HOPE I CAN WORK WITH THOSE SMALL GROUP OF STAFF MEMBERS OF FIVE OUT OF 1,000 EMPLOYEES TO REGAIN THEIR TRUST, BECAUSE I AM THE DUALLY ELECTED OPPORTUNITY, AND I TAKE MY OATH VERY SERIOUSLY.

>> IN THEIR LETTER URGING YOU TO RESIGN -- I MEAN THEY WANT -- [ TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES ] >> PEOPLE PROPOSE DIFFERENT THEORYS TO ME.

SOME OF THEM I JUST DON'T FIND PLAUSIBLE.

THE -- THE TIMING SOMETIMES ISN'T LOST ON ME, BUT IT'S UNFORTUNATE REGARDLESS, BUT IT IS TOUGH TO DISPROVE FALSEHOODS, AND WE HAVE A JOB TO DO IN THIS OFFICE, SO I HOPE WE CAN RETURN TO THAT, BECAUSE WE ARE DOING SOME AMAZING THINGS IN OUR OFFICE, SUCH AS PROP 207 EXPUNGEMENT.

>> AND YET, RICK ROMLEY, I BELIEVE AT ONE TIME MENTOR OF YOURS -- YOU DO KNOW RICK ROMLEY, RIGHT?

>> YES.

I STARTED MY INTERNSHIP UNDER HIM.

>> HE SAYS YOU ARE HURTING THE OFFICE'S ABILITY TO GET JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS.

THOSE ARE VERY BIG DUTIES.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND?

>> I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT HE WOULDN'T CALL ME DIRECTLY TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, BUT WHAT IS LOST AGAIN ARE THE GREAT THINGS WE'RE DOING SUCH AS THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT, THAT IS A BIG WIN FOR OUR COMMUNITY, SO REALLY, THE CONVERSATION SHOULD BE ABOUT THE GOOD WORK WE'RE DOING WITH OUR 1,000 EMPLOYEES >> SO WHEN HE IS URGING YOU TO RESIGN, AND THAT IS NEEDED TO RESTORE THE CONFIDENCE IN THAT OFFICE.

YOU SAY?

>> I SAY I AM NOT RESIGNING.

I RESPECT A DISAGREEMENT ON OPINION, BUT I ALSO GO OFF OF FACTS.

AND I HAVE A JOB TO DO TO PROTECT OUR COUNTY.

>> DO YOU APPRECIATE WHY THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR JOB PERFORMANCE?

>> WELL, THAT IS NOT NECESSARYILY HOW I WOULD CHARACTERIZE IT.

I'M ALWAYS WILLING TO TALK TO SOMEONE AND HAVE A CONVERSATION, AND ACCUSATIONS AND INNUENDO, I WILL NOT TOLERATE THAT.

BECAUSE WE'RE DOING GREAT WORK.

WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON THAT AND NOT POINTING FINGERS AT OTHER PEOPLE.

>> THERE ARE DEFENSE ATTORNEYS AND THREE DEATH CASES, THEY ARE NOT QUESTIONING YOUR SOBRIETY.

THERE WERE CASES ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN IN CONTACT WITH YOU REGARDING POTENTIAL EMPLOYMENT.

AND YOU ARE SAYING THOSE CONCERNS ARE MISPLACED?

>> YES, AND HERE IS WHY.

WITH THE DEATH PENALTY, I DON'T SIT IN MY OFFICE AND MAKE THAT DECISION IN A VACUUM.

THAT IS ONE OF THE MOST SERIOUS DECISIONS I HAVE TO MAKE.

SO WE HAVE AN ENTIRE COMMITTEE THAT REVIEWS EVERY SINGLE CASE AND REPORTS TO ME.

THE PERSON YOU ARE REFERRING TO WANTED TO RETURN TO THE OFFICE.

DURING THE COURSE OF THE HIRING PROCESS, WE WERE NOT AWARE OF WHAT WAS GOING ON.

AND THE JUDICIAL CONDUCT COMMISSION FOUND A FAILURE TO SUPERVISE.

AND ONCE WE WERE MADE AWARE OF THAT, WE PUT THIS PERSON ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE, AND ARE CONDUCTING OUR OWN INVESTIGATION.

>> BEING UNAWARE OF THAT, AND OTHER CONCERNS AGAIN, KIND OF GOOD BACK TO JUDGMENT.

WERE YOU UNAWARE, OR WAS THE OFFICE UNAWARE?

>> THE OFFICE WAS UNAWARE.

WHEN THERE IS A PENDING JUDICIAL LITIGATION, IT IS NOT LIKE IT IS A WEBSITE AND PUBLIC.

USUALLY THOSE PROCEEDINGS ARE PRIVATE AT THE TIME.

AND WE DO A THOROUGH BACKGROUND CHECK ON EVERY SINGLE PERSON WE HIRE.

AND WE MOVED FORWARD AND HIRED THIS PERSON, AND ONCE WE BECAME AWARE OF THAT, SHE WAS PUT ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE, AND WE ALWAYS REVISIT ALL OF OUR CASES, BECAUSE THOSE TYPES OF CASES ARE VERY SERIOUS, AND I THINK THE DEATH PENALTY IS THE WORST OF THE WORST.

>> WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME IN ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS HERE.

IT HAS ALWAYS OCCURRED TO ME THROUGH THE COURSE OF ALL OF THIS, THAT A LEAVE OF ABSENCE WOULD HAVE BEEN A REALLY WISE THING TO DO.

WHY DID YOU NOT TAKE A LEAVE OF ABSENCE.

>> WELL, I DID.

I TOOK TIME TO TAKE CARE OF MYSELF, TO GET MYSELF ON A GOOD PATH, AND I'M BACK AND HEALTHY, AND THERE IS NO NEED FOR THAT AT THIS POINT, BECAUSE I AM WORKING MY PROGRAM, AND THERE IS A LOT OF BUSINESS THAT HAS TO BE DONE IN THIS COUNTY, AND WE NEED A STRONG LEADER TO LEAD US THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC, TO KEEP OUR FAMILIES FAMILIES -- SAFE.

WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THE WORK OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE >> ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT AN OFFICIAL LEAVE OF ABSENCE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THAT FOLKS WOULD USURP YOUR AUTHORITY?

>> I DON'T HAVE A CONCERN WITH THAT.

I HAVE A GREAT LEADERSHIP TEAM IN PLACE THAT IF SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN TO ME, AND I WAS IN A CAR CRASH, FOR INSTANCE, I HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT THEY COULD TAKE THE HELM.

BUT THERE IS NO NEED FOR ME TO TAKE A LEAVE OF ABSENCE, LIKE I SAID.

I'M GOING TO DO THE JOB THAT I WAS ELECTED TO DO.

>> BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, THEY TALKED ABOUT THIS SITUATION, RICK ROMLEY, AND YOU HAVE THE TOP FIVE IN YOUR OFFICE -- >> THEY ARE NOT ALL TOP FIVE.

>> NOT ALL TOP FIVE, BUT THEY ARE FIVE, AND THEY ALL EXPRESS THE SAME CONCERNS.

IS THAT SMOKE WITHOUT FIRE?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD CHARACTERIZE IT LIKE THAT, BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN TAKING THE HIGH ROAD AND HAVE A CONVERSATION ONE ON ONE WITH SOMEONE IF YOU HAVE CONCERNS.

AND I HAVE YET TO HAVE THAT WITH SOMEONE.

THEY HAVE BEEN AMAZING WORKING COLLEAGUES, AND WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER AS MARICOPA COUNTY AS A WHOLE.

SO, AGAIN, I ALWAYS WELCOME THE CONVERSATION, BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO HAVE THE TIME TO BE HERE TODAY TO SPEAK THE TRUTH, AND AGAIN, I HOPE THAT IF MY JOURNEY HELPS ONE PERSON, THAT I HOPE THAT HELPS.

AND PEOPLE SHOULD BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE THEMSELVES >> AND THAT IS YOUR MESSAGE THOSE WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR JOB PERFORMANCE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ALLISTER ADEL THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK >>> UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," CONCERNS OVER INCREASING INCIDENTS OF ANTI-SEMITISM IN THE STATE.

>>> ARIZONA AND THE REST OF THE NATION HAS SEEN AN INCREASE IN INCIDENTS OF ANTI-SEMITISM.

WHY IS THIS HAPPENING, AND WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT.

WE ASKED PAUL ROCKOWER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL OF GREATER PHOENIX.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME THIS VERY IMPORTANT SUBJECT.

26% INCREASE IN 2021, 41% SINCE 2019.

WHAT IS GOING ON OUT THERE?

>> THANK YOU.

THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION.

AND I DON'T THINK THE STATISTICS OF WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR THE JEWISH COMMUNITY.

>> RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS, DO THEY SEEM TO BE ESPECIALLY TARGETED THIS GO AROUND, OR IS THIS THE SAME AS USUAL?

>> UNFORTUNATELY THE JEWISH COMMUNITY GETS ITS HIGHER SHARE OF ATTACKS ON RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS.

WE HAVE HAD INCIDENTS?

TUCSON AND HERE IN PHOENIX AS WELL, DEALING WITH EXTREMISTS AND THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN RADICALIZED AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THE JEWISH COMMUNITY BARES THE BRUNT OF HATE CRIMES AND INCIDENTS, BUT IT HAS BEEN A DIFFICULT TIME FOR A LOT OF COMMUNITIES, AND WE BAN TOGETHER TO DEAL WITH ANTI-SEMITISM, AN SYSTEMIC RACISM ISSUES.

AND WE TRY TO DEAL WITH ISSUES THAT KEEP OUR COMMUNITY AND OTHER COMMUNITIES UP AT NIGHT.

SO REALLY, WORKING TOGETHER IN COALITION TO TRY TO TAKE ON THESE INCIDENTS.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME THINGS HERE AND THE IMPACT OF CONSPIRACY THEORIES.

STARTING WITH COVID, MASKS AND VACCINES.

IS THAT A PRIMER HERE?

>> YEAH, THAT IS A GOOD POINT.

IT IS A PUMP.

WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN ANTI-SEMITIC INCIDENTS FOR A LONG TIME, BUT REALLY IT HAS BEEN SUPERCHARGED WITH THE POLARIZATION IN SOCIETY.

THINGS LIKE COVID AVERETT -- AND RHETORIC, AND THE SOCIAL MEDIA HELPS SHARE A LOT OF THESE EXTREMIST MESSAGES WHICH HELPS PEOPLE WHO FEEL MARGINALIZED AND THEY REACH OUT TO EXTREMIST SPACES.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS REPEATED REFERENCES AND ANALYSIS TO THE HOLOCAUST, AND REPEATED USE OF SWASTIKAS OUT THERE.

IS THIS WHAT IS OLD IS NEW AGAIN?

OR DOES IT EVER REALLY GO AWAY?

>> IT NEVER REALLY QUITE WENT AWAY.

WE HAD SOME VICTORIES HERE IN ARIZONA.

WE MANDATE HOLOCAUST EDUCATION.

AND USING EDUCATION TO HELP TAMP BACK DOWN AGAINST SOME OF THE EXTREMISM.

BUT, REALLY, THE JEWISH COMMUNITY IS THE CANNERY IN THE COAL FINE WHEN IT COMES TO THIS.

IT'S AN EXAMPLE THAT CIVIL SOCIETY IS IN A MORE DANGEROUS PLACE.

YOU SEE THAT WITH CONSPIRACY THEORIES, AND PEOPLE LATCHING ON TO ALL SORTS OF THINGS COVID.

SO WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO TRY TO GET BACK TO A BETTER PLACE.

>> YOU MENTIONED EDUCATION.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS AND WHAT IS NOT TAUGHT?

>> WE DON'T GET INTO SPECIFICS.

IT'S NOT JUST THE HOLOCAUST, IT IS OTHER GENOCIDE THAT IS TAUGHT TO THE STUDENTS SO THEY KNOW THE HISTORY, AND THEY BRING IN THIS SURVIVORS, AND SO IN THE LONG-TERM THAT HELPS EDUCATE STUDENTS AND HELPS CREATE SPACES WHERE PEOPLE ARE NOT AS SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE CONSPIRACIES TO MESSAGES THAT ARE JUST FALSE.

SO FRANKLY -- I MEAN THE LONG-TERM EDUCATION HELPS DEAL WITH THE SITUATION, AND WE WORK IN COALITION WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES TO HELP TAMP DOWN AGAINST THESE INCIDENTS AGAINST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES.

>> LAST QUESTION.

I WANT TO FIND OUT THE MESSAGE FROM JEWISH COMMUNITY LEADERS.

WHAT IS THE MESSAGE HERE?

WHAT NEEDS TO BE SAID?

>> THERE REALLY CAN'T BE A SPACE FOR ANTI-SEMITISM HERE IN ARIZONA, AND THANKFULLY WE HAVE SEEN LEADERS COME OUT AGAINST ANTI-SEMITIC LEGISLATURES AND FOCUS ON THOSE WHO JOIN WITH CAUSE OF WHITE NATIONALLY.

.

AND THIS ISN'T JUST A JEWISH ISSUE.

IT'S AN ARIZONA ISSUE, AND MAKING SURE WE STAND TOGETHER AGAINST THIS.

AND THANKFULLY WE HAVE A LOT OF GOOD PARTNERS IN A LOT OF PLACES AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO TAMP DOWN ON THIS.

>> PAUL ROCKOWER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL OF GREATER PHOENIX, PAUL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AND SHA LUM.

>> AND THAT IS IT FOR YOU.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.