by Matthew Holloway | Aug 6, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Three of Arizona’s Republican Congressional delegation have called for accountability from the FBI over the rapidly evolving scandal around the ‘Durham Annex,’ a cache of recently released records exposed by FBI Director Kash Patel and Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard.
Following the initial release, Congressmen Abe Hamadeh, Eli Crane, and Andy Biggs all offered comments via X, along with media interviews uniformly calling for accountability from the Department of Justice for the monumental scandal, which President Donald Trump described as “a FAILED coup.”
Gabbard started the proverbial ball rolling with a post to X, saying, “Whistleblower reveals how they were threatened by a supervisor to go along with the Obama-directed Russia hoax ‘intelligence’ assessment, even though they knew it was not credible or accurate. The Whistleblower refused.
“Yesterday we released the Whistleblower’s firsthand account of what happened in the crafting of the January 2017 ICA, their yearslong efforts to expose the egregious manipulation and manufacturing of intelligence carried out at the highest levels of government and the IC (detailed in our previous releases) and how they were repeatedly ignored.”
The releases by DNI Gabbard and FBI Director Patel indicated that the Hillary Clinton campaign allegedly approved a plan to falsely link President Donald Trump to Russia as a distraction from her email scandal, with the FBI failing to adequately investigate or disclose key information, including misleading the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. The document highlights U.S. intelligence assessments of Russian intercepts suggesting Clinton’s involvement in stirring up a scandal. Later email releases showed clear ties from the Clinton Campaign to Leonard Benardo, Senior Vice President of billionaire George Soros’ Open Society Foundations.
Congressman Crane made several posts to X over the course of the day, calling for accountability. He quoted Leading Report’s note that said, “Declassified files show Hillary Clinton personally signed off on plan to link Trump to Russia in 2016, ” and he wrote, “And the swamp went along with it. We the People expect ACCOUNTABILITY.”
Sharing the whistleblower account Crane added, “This is a MASSIVE scandal. There has to be accountability.”
Responding to a report from John Solomon, Crane commented, “A historic scandal. And it’ll likely be ignored by the very mainstream media figures that perpetuated the hoax in the first place.”
In response to additional subsequent releases from FBI Director Patel, he wrote “Keep releasing. Then we have to hold them accountable.”
Congressman and Arizona Gubernatorial candidate Andy Biggs similarly demanded “consequences for everyone who conspired against the American people.”
He wrote, “It was planned from the start. Americans were manipulated by the Left and the media for years. Those of us who called out the stench from the start were painted as conspiracy theorists. There must be severe consequences for everyone who conspired against the American people.”
In an interview with Garret Lewis of The Afternoon Addiction on 550 KFYI, Rep. Abe Hamadeh was clear: “There has to be justice. There has to be accountability. People need to be locked up.”
“It is the biggest scandal in American history, and that’s why President Trump won back in November,” Hamadeh added. “Because this is a repudiation of the corrupt cabal that has held a chokehold on our country for so long.”
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Ethan Faverino | Aug 6, 2025 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
Congressman Abraham Hamadeh (AZ-08) has introduced the Proving Residency for Overseas Voter Eligibility (PROVE) Act, which is a step toward ensuring trust and integrity in America’s elections.
Joined by original co-sponsors Congressman Tim Burchett (TN-02) and Congressman Andy Ogles (TN-05), Hamadeh’s legislation addresses critical vulnerabilities in the current voting system for overseas citizens.
The PROVE Act amends the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) to require non-military U.S. citizens living abroad to prove current residency in the state where they intend to vote.
Acceptable proof includes residency ties through the voter, their spouse, parent, or legal guardian. Those unable to establish state residency may vote in federal elections only in the District of Columbia.
Under existing UOCAVA rules, states must allow overseas citizens to vote in federal elections based on their last state of residence, even if they lack current ties to that state.
39 states, including key swing states like Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Wisconsin, permit people who have never resided in the U.S. to vote in state elections, undermining the integrity of the electoral process.
Congressman Hamadeh stated, “The loophole in UOCAVA allows citizens living overseas, with no current ties to a state, to arbitrarily choose where their vote counts. This threatens electoral integrity and is an affront to everyone who believes in fair and free elections. The PROVE Act will close this loophole and go far to restore trust in our elections.”
Since taking office in January 2025, Congressman Hamadeh has prioritized election integrity and called on his colleagues to join him in supporting the PROVE Act so they can rebuild the trust of American citizens in our country’s elections.
“In Arizona, we have seen what the mismanagement of voter rolls, failed election infrastructure, and corrupt courts can do to destroy voter confidence and faith in our system overall,” said Hamadeh. Since taking office, I have introduced legislation to address some of the most egregious practices and close the most glaring loopholes in our election system.”
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Aug 5, 2025 | Economy, News
By Ethan Faverino |
Maricopa County has secured a spot among Arizona’s top destinations for retirees, according to a new study by SmartAsset.
The study evaluated counties across the United States based on three key factors: tax-friendliness, access to medical care, and social opportunities, putting Maricopa County as an ideal location for those planning the golden years of retirement.
To assess tax-friendliness, the study calculated effective income and sales tax rates for a retiree earning $35,000 annually from retirement savings, Social Security, and part-time work, determining disposable income after taxes.
For medical care, the study measured the number of doctors’ offices per 1,000 residents, and the same for social opportunities, which measured the number by recreation and retirement centers per 1,000, along with the percentage of seniors in each county’s population.
Maricopa County ranked sixth in Arizona with a Best Place to Retire Index score of 43.1.
The county excels in medical care access, with 3.28 medical centers per 1,000 residents, one of the highest rates in the state.
With a tax burden of 15.82% and an offering of 0.12 recreation centers and 0.4 retirement centers per 1,000 people, Maricopa County provides a balanced environment for retirees seeking affordability, healthcare, and an active lifestyle.
While its senior population is lower at 15.99% compared to the top-ranked La Paz County (42.23%), Maricopa County’s urban amenities and vibrant community make it a standout choice.
Retirement dreams of adventure and relaxation require careful financial planning, often overlooked within daily expenses.
Experts recommend saving 10%-15% of annual income and targeting 25 times the yearly expenses to replace 70%-80% of pre-retirement income. For example, if somebody spends $50,000 annually in retirement, they should aim to save around $1.25 million through 401k, retirement, and other investments.
Maricopa County’s high density of medical facilities ensures retirees’ healthcare needs are met, addressing the rising healthcare costs that often challenge retirement budgets. Its moderate 15.82% tax burden supports financial planning by allowing retirees to stretch their savings further.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Aug 5, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona State Representative John Gillette (R-LD30) issued a strong condemnation of Texas Democrats who have fled their state in an effort to deny the legislature a quorum over upcoming redistricting proposals. In fleeing the state, the leftist lawmakers have ground progress on not only the redistricting, but bills addressing the devastating Hill Country flood as well, earning them wide criticism, arrest warrants, and potential expulsion.
Texas State Representative Ann Johnson (D-HD134) defended the ongoing abdication of duty in a post to X saying, “Breaking Quorum is an exceptional and extraordinary act of last resort.” Johnson’s post ingored the fact that Democrat lawmakers did similar as recently as 2021 to delay mail-in ballot reform and before that in 2003 to also oppose redistricting.
Gillette’s response to Johnson was scathing. “Breaking quorum is a cowardly act,” he wrote. “You swore an oath, not only to the Constitution but your State as well as its people. Now you hide in leftist states. What a disgrace. You can try to church this up all you want….not working[.] Cowardice and criminal, sum up the democrat party.”
The Republican lawmaker’s response to a video post from Texas State Representative Ron Reynolds (D-HD27) made on an airliner was even more direct. Answering Reynolds’ claim to be “breaking quorum today to stop Texas Republicans from passing racially gerrymandered maps,” Gillette replied, “Cowardly P”ssy said what? Go back and do your job.”
As of this report, the Texas legislature has voted to empower its Sergeant-at-Arms to locate and arrest the more than 50 Democrat legislators who have abandoned the Special Session called by Governor Greg Abbott to respond to the flooding emergency on the Guadalupe River, and which has also taken on redistricting.
As reported by the Texas Tribune, House Speaker Dustin Burrows slammed the Democrats from the House on Monday saying they had “shirked their responsibilities,” and thanking those present. “You understand that the issues before us, disaster recovery, fighting for the families who lost loved ones in the floods, human trafficking and more, are not abstract policy debates,” Burrows said with a rebuke toward the Democrats. “Instead of confronting those challenges, some of our colleagues have fled the state and their duty.”
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Matthew Holloway | Aug 4, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona’s Democrat Secretary of State Adrian Fontes fueled a new wave of condemnation during a Wednesday War Room segment of ‘Outspoken with Bruce and Gaydos’ on KTAR with Republican Arizona Senator John Kavanaugh. During the segment, Fontes brazenly described law enforcement as “hooded thugs.” Fontes then went on to deny his words minutes later when called Kavanaugh, a former police officer, called him out for it.
Saguaro Group and Arizona Capitol Oversight founder Brian Anderson drew attention to the moment in a post to X writing, “Democrat @Adrian_Fontes just went on the radio and smeared Arizona law enforcement officers as “HOODED THUGS” for enforcing border laws … and then nervously claimed “I didn’t say the word thug” after Senator @JohnKavanagh_AZ called him out for it[.]”
Republican Congressman and gubernatorial candidate Andy Biggs also called out Fontes on X, saying, “Arizona is less safe today because Democrats like Katie Hobbs and Adrian Fontes think our law enforcement agents are ‘thugs.’ Our safety is at risk. We cannot afford four more years of them in charge.”
In full context, Fontes began the exchange by responding to a question from co-host Bruce St. James, who asked how illegal immigrants are being selected for arrest and deportation. St. James asked, “How are these people [illegal immigrants] then being chosen picking picked out of a group then? What are the parameters people are using?”
Fontes answered, “Uh, whatever they are, they are un-Christian. I can’t see how anybody can say they’re a Christian and treat someone from another land in their own land this way. It’s mean is what it is. It’s mean-spirited. Uh, a lot of these folks are being picked up by, you know, hooded thugs in the street in the most un-American way. So, I just think the spirit behind this, whether or not the poll numbers are up or down, I mean, that’s kind of the window dressing here. At the end of the day, what we’re looking at is uh scaring the hell out of people on purpose because we don’t like them. And it’s an un-Christian-based way of not liking people because just cuz they’re from somewhere else.”
Defending the use of masks to protect officers from the dangerous leftist tactic of ‘doxxing’ law enforcement officers and their families, making them vulnerable to targeted violence, Kavanaugh called out the Democrat Secretary of State for his comment: “I’m proud to have been a cop for 20 years. I’m proud to have helped immigration when I was a cop.” Kavanaugh said.
To which Fontes replied, “I appreciate what law enforcement agents do when they do it to protect or to…”
But Kavanaugh, having none of it, cut him off, “But you call them thugs!”
Fontes immediately denied the words he had spoken just over four minutes before, claiming, “I didn’t say the word thug. Now you’re lying.”
Kavanaugh then challenged him, “Play the tape. What? What? Mask thugs, or did you use a similar derogatory term? You didn’t say law enforcement officers.”
Fontes avoided the question and continued to attack the enforcement of immigration laws, saying, “You remove humanity, dignity, mercy, and decency from governance. What you’re doing is saying the most powerful will rule over the least without mercy.”
However, Kavanaugh wouldn’t let the comment pass unanswered, “So when I was a cop and I locked up somebody who committed a crime, I was a thug? I was not being humane because I enforced the law?”
Fontes answered conditionally, “When the law is amnesty, and people are fleeing places where they might get killed if they stay there?” He continued, claiming, “This home of freedom is now turning into a place of fear because of these ridiculous policies.”
Kavanaugh replied tersely, “People being removed do not have claims of asylum. If they did, they’d be on hold.”
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Ethan Faverino | Aug 4, 2025 | Education, News
By Ethan Faverino |
Arizona State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne criticized recent remarks made by Governor Katie Hobbs’ spokesman, Christian Slater, who labeled the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) staff as “wasteful bureaucracy.”
Horne called the comments a reckless insult to dedicated state employees who are understaffed, under pressure, and focused on serving the parents seeking the best education for their children.
“The governor’s spokesman has demeaned state employees by calling ESA professionals a ‘wasteful bureaucracy.’ Defining people as waste is a terrible insult,” said Superintendent Horne. “No matter what her (Governor Hobbs) personal opposition, the ESA program exists to give parents’ choice when local schools don’t meet their children’s needs, and people are needed to serve those parents. That is not wasteful; it is essential.”
ESA Director John Ward, in a recent legislative testimony, highlighted the program’s significant growth and challenges.
In the 2025 fiscal year, the ESA program distributed $869 million, surpassing the $769 million allocated for all federal education programs in Arizona.
Despite managing a larger budget, the ESA program has only 40 employees, compared to the 300 staff members handling federal programs at the Arizona Department of Education.
Since its start in 2011, the ESA program has grown from $100 million and 11,000 accounts to now, nearly $1 billion and over 90,000 accounts today, with no additional staff to support the increased workload.
“We are always in survival mode,” Ward told lawmakers. “Our main responsibility is to get students who want to be in the program into the program, to review their purchases, and provide customer service. That is our core mission, and that is what we are focused on.”
Horne also noted that in 2025, the Department of Education requested 12 additional staff members to manage the growing program’s demands. The House supported this request in its budget, but Governor Hobbs refused to consider it.
“To deny these resources while allowing her spokesman to insult state employees serving parents is beyond the pale,” Horne said.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
