A campaign fundraiser for Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) faces felony charges after law enforcement officers found an active meth lab and numerous drugs at her Arizona home, authorities said.
The deputies also discovered "very explosive, very deadly" material at Emily Pitha's Phoenix home Tuesday, a sheriff's spokesman told KPNX.
The 34-year-old, who arranged fundraising events for the U.S. senator as a subcontractor, was taken into custody on multiple felony drug charges, including child endangerment. Two children, aged 5 and 9, were found living at the neighborhood home, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office said in an issued statement.
"Most of the LSD and the methamphetamine and cocaine was easily available and able to get grabbed by these children," Sheriff's Detective Doug Matteson told KPNX.
The illicit drugs included a quarter pound of meth, several grams of heroin, about 50 milliliters of liquid MDMA, hundreds of ecstasy pills, several grams of crystalized MDMA, marijuana, approximately 2 grams of cocaine, 10 hits of LSD, cannabis concentrate “shatter,” hash oil and around $7,000 in cash, authorities said.
Matteson said the surprising discovery came after authorities X-rayed a package sent to the home from the Netherlands. It contained over 250 grams of raw ecstasy material, the sheriff's office said.
Deputies arrested Pitha's 36-year-old boyfriend, Christopher Hustrulid, when he signed for the package as it arrived at the home, Matteson told The Arizona Republic.
Hustrulid was also booked for child endangerment. And authorities charged the pair with manufacturing of narcotic drugs, possession of dangerous and narcotic drugs, and transportation of dangerous drugs, possession of drug lab equipment and possession of marijuana. Both are being held on $20,000 cash only bonds.
McCain spokesman Ryan O’Daniel announced Pitha's termination shortly after news of her arrest broke.
“We commend the hard work and dedication of our law enforcement officers in their fight to keep our community safe from illegal drugs and associated criminal activity," O'Daniel said in a statement. "The campaign immediately terminated any relationship with Ms. Pitha upon learning of her alleged involvement in the operation."
According to Pitha’s LinkedIn profile, she previously worked for former Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) as well.
A neighbor of the couple said he was shocked he learned about the drugs seized inside the family home.
"They pretty much stayed to themselves," Jack Griffin told KTVK News. "He likes to run his remote control cars outside. He just seems like a great guy, but I think that's probably what allows it to be successful."
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