Arizona’s Fiesta Bowl Racks Up $5M in Legal Bills

The Fiesta Bowl has spent more than $5 million on lawyers since reports began surfacing nearly two years ago that employees were illegally reimbursed for making campaign contributions.

The Arizona Republic reports the legal bills are disclosed in a civil suit the bowl filed against its insurance carrier.

The bowl is dealing with inquiries ranging from the U.S. Department of Justice to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.

According to the most recent records available, the legal bills amount to more than one-fifth of the bowl’s $22.3 million in net assets as of fiscal 2009-2010.

A federal grand jury this month indicted the former Fiesta Bowl chief operating officer alleging her involvement in a cover-up regarding illegal political contributions by bowl employees. Natalie Wisneski is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday.