Coconino County Judge Amy Kriddle has issued an injunction against harassment barring a journalist from approaching State Senator Wendy Rogers (R-Flagstaff). The order said that Arizona Capitol Times reporter Camryn Sanchez shall have no contact with Rogers except through attorneys, the legal process, and hearings, and may not go near Rogers’ residences.
Rogers tweeted on Thursday, “Creepy @azcapitoltimes reporter @CamrynSanchezAZ has been stalking me and my neighbors at my private residences with no explanation. A judge just issued a restraining order against her for her bizarre behavior. See photos.” Rogers attached three photos of Sanchez outside her door, along with the restraining order.
Creepy @azcapitoltimes reporter @CamrynSanchezAZ has been stalking me and my neighbors at my private residences with no explanation. A judge just issued a restraining order against her for her bizarre behavior. See photos. pic.twitter.com/ItrWNkxU6t
— Wendy Rogers (@WendyRogersAZ) April 20, 2023
The Arizona State Senate issued a press release about the incident, stating, “The reporter has been documented as repeatedly committing harassing, annoying, and alarming attempts to contact the Senator.”
It quoted Rogers explaining the history of the alleged stalking.
“Earlier in this legislative session, after the reporter repeatedly invaded my personal space at my desk in the Senate Chamber, I requested that the Senate Sergeant at Arms and staff convey to the reporter that I did not want her to approach me,” she said. “I didn’t have any issues further with this reporter until this week, when she showed up at two of my Valley homes, multiple times. The latest attempted contact at one of my residences happened Wednesday night. I don’t know this reporter personally, I don’t know what she is capable of, and I don’t believe anyone in their right mind would show up uninvited to my home at night. Therefore, I don’t trust that this person wouldn’t lash out and try to physically harm me in some fashion.”
State Senate President Warren Petersen (R-Mesa) added, “Our members know that the media will frequently engage with us in order to document the happenings at the Legislature, but everyone deserves privacy in their personal residences without worrying about reporters repeatedly showing up unannounced. A judge, who is a disinterested, non-biased, third-party, heard Senator Rogers’ complaint and agreed with her position.”
The Kari Lake War Room Twitter account responded to Rogers, “Wonderful statement. We stand in solidarity with @WendyRogersAZ & against this egregious harassment from the Press.”
The mainstream media downplayed the seriousness of the alleged stalking. Arizona Capitol Media’s Howie Fischer texted Rogers, “Why is ringing your doorbell harassment?”
Barry Markson, a radio talk show host on KTAR and attorney, minimized Sanchez’s actions. “Wendy Rogers is such a snowflake,” he tweeted about the retired, highly decorated Air Force pilot, who was one of the first 100 women pilots in the Air Force. “A reporter goes to her home and rings the bell hoping to ask Rogers a question. Rogers isn’t there but takes out an injunction against harassment. Against a reporter. When did republicans become whiny little snowflakes?”
The Sun Times told Rogers about his tweet, and she responded, “The only snowflakes are in a pile still at the end of my street at my home.”
In contrast, the mainstream media has quickly accused conservative reporters of behavior similar to Sanchez’s. Last fall, Votebeat reporter Jen Fifield tweeted criticism of The Gateway Pundit’s reporter Jordan Conradson after Maricopa County officials denied him a press badge to cover elections. She said, “County elections getting all fancy. Really gonna miss the Gateway Pundit rolling in and trying to listen in on legitimate reporter conversations/intimidate public officials.”
The Gateway Pundit and Conradson sued Maricopa County over the denial, and after it became fairly evident the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals was going to rule against the county, the county settled for $175,000. Conradson tweeted Fifield on Thursday about Sanchez, stating, “Imagine if I did this to an elected official LOL what a nutcase! Any comment @JenAFifield, seeing as you like to accuse me of intimidating elected officials? SMH.”
Fifield responded, asserting that Conradson “chase[d] after an elected official.” No one has accused Conradson of stalking or attempted to get a restraining order against him.
Several people on Twitter said that Sanchez was trying to confront Rogers to ask her about having a home outside of her district. It is common for legislators outside of Maricopa County to reside near the state capitol during the legislative session. Rogers told The Sun Times she bought a second home in Chandler since it has a hangar, so she can easily fly back and forth from Flagstaff and access other parts of her district. Her district stretches all around the state, encompassing four counties.
Rogers’ primary home since 2015 is her Flagstaff home. She provided The Sun Times with documents indicating that is her primary residence, which were her driver’s license, voter ID card, flight instructor license, fishing license, and American Legion membership card. The Veterans of Foreign Wars presented her with the Veteran of the Year 2019 award for Flagstaff. She frequently appears on Flagstaff radio shows.
A complaint was submitted to then-Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs in 2020 alleging that Rogers improperly listed her Flagstaff residence on her campaign finance reports, and claimed that her home in Maricopa County was really her “primary residence.” State Elections Director Sambo Dul responded and said they found no violation, noting that “[t]here is no requirement under Arizona campaign finance law that a candidate committee designate a ‘primary residence’ as the physical address listed on the committee’s statement of organization for the candidate or the chairperson.”
Newspaper reports from the late 1990s state that courts ruled that a lawmaker’s legal residence is a “state of mind” rather than a firm rule. Rogers told The Sun Times she believes the complaint about her residence is a “red herring” by a “woke” journalist.
The injunction against harassment will be in place for a year. Sanchez has 10 days to contest the order.
– – –
Rachel Alexander is a reporter at The Arizona Sun Times and The Star News Network. Follow Rachel on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Camryn Sanchez” by Wendy Rogers.
