Pinal County Attorney May Face Probe Over Signal Use, Discrimination Claims

County leaders voted to ask the attorney general to open an investigation into prosecutor Brad Miller.

Feb. 6, 2026 at 3:31pm

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The Pinal County Board of Supervisors has voted unanimously to ask Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes to investigate County Attorney Brad Miller over several issues, including the alleged misuse of public monies and resources, failure to retain public records, and discrimination against female employees. The referral comes after reports that Miller and his staff used the encrypted messaging app Signal to evade public records laws.

Why it matters

The allegations against Miller raise concerns about transparency and accountability in the Pinal County Attorney's Office. The use of encrypted messaging apps to avoid public records laws is a serious breach of trust, and the claims of discrimination against female employees further undermine confidence in the office's leadership. The investigation could have significant implications for Miller's tenure and the operations of the county attorney's office.

The details

The Pinal County Board of Supervisors voted to refer the matter to the Arizona Attorney General's Office after a former county attorney employee filed a notice of claim alleging sexual discrimination, unpaid work, and forced resignation. The board's outside counsel, Joe Kanefield, said the issues were revealed through an investigation into unauthorized hires by Miller's office. The board also voted to compensate two unnamed employees who worked for Miller's office without prior approval and were not paid. Additionally, the board is asking Mayes to investigate the alleged unauthorized use of a criminal history database maintained by the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

  • In late 2025, a former county attorney employee filed a notice of claim against Miller's office.
  • In January 2026, Miller denied using encrypted apps like Signal during a press conference.
  • On February 6, 2026, the Pinal County Board of Supervisors voted to refer the matter to the Arizona Attorney General's Office.

The players

Brad Miller

The Pinal County Attorney who is accused of misusing public resources, failing to retain public records, and discriminating against female employees.

Kris Mayes

The Arizona Attorney General who the Pinal County Board of Supervisors has asked to investigate the allegations against Brad Miller.

Pinal County Board of Supervisors

The five-member board that oversees the Pinal County Attorney's Office and voted unanimously to refer the allegations against Miller to the state Attorney General's Office.

Jeremiah Brosowske

The chief of staff for Pinal County Attorney Brad Miller, who is also accused of using the encrypted messaging app Signal.

Kent Volkmer

The former Pinal County Attorney who served for eight years before Miller defeated him in the 2024 Republican primary, and who is critical of Miller's alleged use of Signal.

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What they’re saying

“It's plainly and clearly against the law. The public records law is pretty darn clear. It's not even debatable.”

— Kent Volkmer, Former Pinal County Attorney (Phoenix New Times)

“We're supposed to make sure everybody's behaving themselves, but if we don't, we have no recourse. It's unfortunate that the accusations that have come out in these employment cases have risen to a level that we feel that they should be sent to the AG's office.”

— Stephen Miller, Pinal County Supervisor (Phoenix New Times)

What’s next

The Arizona Attorney General's Office will decide whether to open an investigation into the allegations against Pinal County Attorney Brad Miller. The outcome of any potential investigation could have significant implications for Miller's tenure and the operations of the county attorney's office.

The takeaway

The allegations against Pinal County Attorney Brad Miller highlight the importance of transparency and accountability in government. The use of encrypted messaging apps to avoid public records laws and claims of discrimination against female employees are serious breaches of the public trust that warrant a thorough investigation by the state Attorney General's Office.