Posted Apr 2, 2010 7:12 AM CDT
By Debra Cassens Weiss

A controversial county attorney has resigned amid an FBI investigation and accusations of political cronyism.

But the resignation is not an indication that County Attorney Andrew Thomas is backing down. He says he’s resigning to run for attorney general, an office he sought without success in 2002. The Arizona Republic, the Phoenix New Times and MyFoxPhoenix have the story.

The FBI is reportedly investigating Thomas for the role he played in prosecuting and suing Maricopa County officials. Thomas and Sheriff Joe Arpaio had filed a racketeering suit against several officials, including judges, but later withdrew the action amid claims of a Justice Department investigation that drew a rebuke from the department for being an overstatement.

The ABA Journal covered the controversy in the April feature, "The Maricopa Courthouse War."

Thomas said he wants to become attorney general to fight crime and illegal immigration.