Top Arizona House Democrat wants indicted lawmaker to resign

The top Democrat in the Arizona House of Representatives is calling on a fellow Democrat to step down after her indictment on food stamp fraud charges.

Minority Leader Rep. Eric Meyer said Thursday that he had spoken with Rep. Cecilia Velasquez and urged her to resign. Meyer says the charges are a distraction and if they are resolved without a felony conviction she can resume her political career.

The Arizona Department of Economic Security announced Wednesday that Velasquez had been indicted on felony fraud and two other charges. Officials say she falsely claimed two dependents, listed the wrong address and let others use her benefit card.

Velasquez hasn't returned calls but said on her Twitter account that she had done nothing wrong. She called the charges a "political witch hunt."