Apache County Attorney under state investigation tied to Norwegian pop star

ST JOHNS, AZ (AZFamily) — Election intimidation, allegations of misuse of taxpayer money and now connections to a Norwegian pop star.

All of it involves Apache County Attorney Michael Whiting.

The embattled top prosecutor can’t even go into the office after four of his staffers filed injunctions against him, claiming they’d been harassed.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes’ Office is investigating Whiting.

They executed a search warrant at this office and home back in June.

In a letter to the Apache County Board of Supervisors, they explained the case involved “the alleged misuse of public monies and threatening and intimidating a political opponent.”

In videos and photos posted to social media, Whiting can be seen fanboying over Norwegian pop star Dagny and her music.

On one of his trips to Europe to see her, he brought tote bags from his anti-bullying campaign.

In another video, the pop star can be seen wearing one of the anti-bullying shirts.

This is thousands of miles from Apache County and his office.

“As a prosecutor, your job is to enforce the rule of law. Your job is to follow the law,” Seth Goertz, a former federal prosecutor, told Arizona’s Family back in June when the allegations first came to light.

Fernando Madrid is the political opponent at the center of this. Madrid was running against Whiting’s wife, Joy, for Apache County School Superintendent.

Arizona’s Family Investigates obtained the letter Madrid sent to the elections director in March explaining why he dropped out of the race.

“I do not want to place myself in harm’s way and do not want my immediate family ... followed, questioned, approached, and harassed any longer,” Madrid wrote.

In that letter, he mentions an assault.

Arizona’s Family Investigates also got the police report from the St. Johns Police Department.

In it, police note Madrid was collecting signatures to run outside a church when two men approached.

He said one of them “crumpled up the petition and threw it on the ground.”

The other “hit the clipboard,” knocking it “out of his hand.”

One of them followed up with, “Michael Whiting is just getting started with you.” Police took the report and forwarded it to the Attorney General’s Office.

“This is the face of the agency. This is the lead prosecutor in that county,” Goertz said.

Arizona’s Family Investigates reached out to Whiting and his attorney, but neither responded.

The Attorney General’s Office said they continue to investigate, and Whiting has not been charged.

In earlier emails, Whiting denied any wrongdoing.

Meantime, Michael and Joy Whiting continue to run for reelection and are running unopposed.

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