PHOENIX (AZ Family) — Despite being removed from office, indicted on felony charges and having a suspended law license, Apache County voters re-elected District Attorney Michael Whiting.

State law says a county attorney must have a law license in good standing. That is why the Supervisory Board removed him from office last week. But he continued to run for re-election anyway.

Apache County District Attorney Michael Whiting is accused of misusing tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars and threatening his wife’s political opponent. Joy Whiting is the school superintendent.

The Board of Supervisors removed Michael from office last week. As of November 1st, the day his law license was suspended, pending the resolution of that criminal case.

He has been unable to return to the office since June, when four of his employees filed restraining orders against him, accusing him of harassing them. None of that stopped voters from re-electing Michael as Apache County’s chief law enforcement officer.

While state law allows someone without a law license in good standing to run for county attorney, he cannot take the job.

“These are unprecedented circumstances, at least that I know of,” said Mark Kokanovich, a former federal prosecutor turned defense attorney.

He said the Board of Supervisors will likely appoint an interim prosecutor. The State Attorney General’s Office has already overseen the office.

Arizona’s Family Investigates asked Kokanovich how Michael could run for a job he can’t fill. “I think it’s a loophole in the law that the legislature could fill,” he replied.

Arizona’s Family Investigates reached out to Michael for comment, but he did not return our call or email. His wife, Joy, also won re-election.

Both pleaded not guilty to the charges.

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