Witness in Cook investigation says lawmaker sent a threat

The day before a legislative ethics committee released a deeply unflattering report on state Rep. David Cook, the lawmaker got a copy for himself and a few hours later sent a message to one of the witnesses that the witness took as a threat, according to a memo from investigators.

Patrick Bray was interviewed by investigators looking into claims that Cook, R-Globe, had a romantic relationship with a lobbyist at the same time he was supporting her legislation. The investigation also looked into allegations that Cook intervened to stop a local sheriff from seizing property belonging to the lobbyist’s family.

The report was not conclusive on either or on whether Cook violated any specific policies in a Legislature where the lines of acceptable behavior are often blurry and selectively enforced.

But the report was embarrassing, raising allegations that Cook had been intoxicated while on the job and demonstrated a pattern of disruptive behavior.

The House released an addendum to the report on Monday that said Bray, a lobbyist for the Arizona Cattle Feeders Association, reported Cook contacted him hours after the lawmaker got a copy of the report.

Cook tried calling and later sent a message to Bray that seemed to reference a cattle grazing agreement that Bray has with an Arizona ranch, the addendum said. (The message said simply “Rainbow and you get the checks.”)

The lobbyist connected to Cook, AnnaMarie Knorr, contacted Bray about the agreement in February, the House’s investigators wrote.

“Fun fact of the day: it’s illegal to get paid a consulting fee to lease land for ag property tax status, at least according to the Maricopa County Assessor’s Office,” Knorr wrote in a message to Bray and her father, Bas Aja.

Bray and Aja lobby for the Arizona Cattle Feeders Association and Aja previously accused Cook of sending him threatening emails after a falling out.