Order issued in Horne campaign finance case

PHOENIX (AP) - A prosecutor is ordering Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne to report and refund hundreds of thousands of dollars of allegedly illegal campaign contributions benefiting Horne's 2010 election campaign.

Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery's compliance order alleges that Horne and his campaign violated campaign finance laws by discussing and coordinating election strategy with a pro-Horne group that was supposedly operating independently.

The order is the result of an FBI investigation and subsequent review by Montgomery's office. Montgomery on Oct. 1 announced he would pursue civil penalties against Horne, his campaign and Horne supporter Kathleen Winn's group.

Horne and Winn have denied coordination between her group and his campaign.

Horne declined to comment Tuesday after Montgomery released the order under a public records request by The Associated Press.

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