Arizona State Sen. Wendy Rogers Censured By Senate For Comments At White Nationalist Rally

For the first time in three decades, Arizona state senators publicly censured one of their own members. Sen. Wendy Rogers (R-Flagstaff) was censured by Republican and Democratic state senators after inflammatory comments she made to a white nationalist conference and attacks on Ukrainian president Vodymyr Zelensky.

“The senator from District 6 has damaged the reputation of the Arizona state by her actions,” Sen. Rick Gray (D-Arizona) said. Rogers said her censure was the result of a corrupted process and slammed her fellow Republicans for “colluding with the Democrats to attempt to destroy my reputation.”

Senate President Karen Fann (R) said the censure is not a freedom of speech issue. Fann noted that “the right to free speech does not give you leeway to threaten people or to say whatever you want then claim it’s under freedom of speech.”

Senate GOP leaders are discussing if Rogers should be removed from her committees. “In the end, I rejoice in knowing I do and say what is right, and I speak as a free American,” Rogers said.

Article by Tara Cumberbatch