by Matthew Holloway | Mar 23, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Congressman Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ) issued a letter to FBI Director Kash Patel, calling on him to rescind a Department of Justice report on the Phoenix Police Department. Hamadeh characterized the report as an example of the weaponization of the DOJ based on cherry picked narratives by the outgoing Biden Administration to support “their political agenda.”
In part, the letter from Hamadeh read, “The Biden DOJ’s ‘pattern or practice’ report on the Phoenix Police Department was a desperate witch hunt. It is nothing more than an attempt to undercut valid police work, leaving my constituents – both officers and civilians – at risk.
“Despite the Biden DOJ’s baseless claims, our officers did everything right, voluntarily cooperating in good faith, opening their records, and participating in lengthy interviews. They were met with stonewalling, mischaracterized testimony, and a final report riddled with glaring inaccuracies. The Biden DOJ’s claim that Phoenix Police Department officers violated constitutional standards during unrest following one of President Trump’s rallies was absurd. That claim is especially ludicrous because the Ninth Circuit affirmed that the department’s actions were lawful. The Biden DOJ ignored this and many other court-backed facts, choosing instead to cherry-pick narratives that support their political agenda.
“The Biden DOJ sowed distrust, diverting millions from public safety, and discouraging officers — at the very moment when Arizona’s communities need them most.”
As reported by AZ Free News, efforts had been underway during the Biden administration to shackle the Phoenix police with a DOJ Consent Decree designed to place the Department under court-ordered federal oversight. The move came following a report from the Biden DOJ that claimed, “We have reasonable cause to believe that PhxPD and the City engage in a pattern or practice of conduct that violates the Constitution and federal law. First, PhxPD uses excessive force, including unjustified deadly force and unreasonable less-lethal force. Second, PhxPD and the City violate the rights of people experiencing homelessness by unlawfully detaining, citing, and arresting them and by unlawfully disposing of their belongings. Third, PhxPD discriminates against Black, Hispanic, and Native American people when making stops and arrests. Fourth, PhxPD violates individuals’ First Amendment Rights. Fifth, PhxPD and the City discriminate in their response to people who have behavioral health disabilities. Finally, we have serious concerns about PhxPD’s treatment of children, and the lasting impact aggressive police encounters have on their mental and physical wellbeing.”
Hamadeh, who participated in a regularly scheduled Air Support Mission with the PPD, had the opportunity to see the work of Phoenix Police Officers firsthand and a statement from his office said decisively, “Congressman Hamadeh believes that by rescinding the DOJ’s report on the Phoenix Police Department, the Trump administration will send a powerful message that political interference has no place in law enforcement, and that America First principles now govern the day.”
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 Staff Reporter | Mar 16, 2025 | News
By Staff Reporter |
Congressman Abe Hamadeh convinced U.S. House leadership to ban circulation of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) propaganda styled as a newspaper.
China Daily will no longer be distributed at the House, per a Tuesday statement from House Administration Chair, Rep. Bryan Steil, and Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party Chair, Rep. John Moolenaar.
“We are pleased to announce that China Daily will no longer be circulated by National News to House offices,” said Steil and Moolenaar. “We took action to directly block the Chinese Communist Party from using the halls of the People’s House to spread its propaganda. We appreciate National News’s swift cooperation on this important issue.”
“Chinese propaganda has no place in the halls of Congress. In coming weeks, China Daily will no longer be circulated by National News to House offices,” stated Chairman Steil. “There is no room for foreign influence in the People’s House. I thank Rep. Hamadeh for bringing this issue to the Committee’s attention and I appreciate National News’s swift work on this matter.”
National News included China Daily within the daily bundle of major publications provided to congressional offices, unless a particular office opted out. Per the Committee on House Administration, National News will “wind down and cease distribution” of China Daily at the Capitol.
An end to the circulation of the CCP’s paper within the House was one of Hamadeh’s first priorities upon entering Congress. Hamadeh introduced a resolution to get rid of China Daily and all other CCP-controlled publications last month.
China Daily constitutes a “foreign influence campaign” per Hamadeh’s resolution.
“China Daily is registered as a foreign agent under the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 and operates as a direct propaganda outlet of the Chinese Communist Party’s Publicity Department,” stated the resolution. “[T]he distribution of foreign propaganda materials within the House of Representatives undermines institutional integrity and enables malign foreign influence operations [and] the presence of Chinese Communist Party-controlled publications in official House facilities legitimizes foreign propaganda efforts[.]”
Hamadeh’s resolution didn’t restrict the private receipt or public research access of those publications by House members and employees, however.
China Daily is an English-language newspaper owned by the CCP’s Central Propaganda Department. It has been registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act as a foreign agent since the 1980s.
The paper maintains branch offices for “China Daily USA” in New York City, New York; San Francisco, California; Los Angeles, California; Seattle, Washington; and Washington, D.C. It also sponsors an insert, China Watch, for distribution within other American newspapers, such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post.
The editor-in-chief and president of China Daily USA, Tao Ji, has spent his entire career with China Daily and another offshoot, China Daily United Europe (United Kingdom).
Although Hamadeh’s resolution has yet to be adopted, the congressman’s public remarks about his legislation and China Daily spurred action within House leadership.
Shortly after Hamadeh initially introduced his bill to ban China Daily, he declared in an interview with the Epoch Times the publication to be an attempt by an enemy of the U.S. to influence its governance.
“It’s propaganda by a foreign government that’s trying to influence the highest echelons of the United States government, and it’s unacceptable,” said Hamadeh.
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by Matthew Holloway | Mar 11, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona Congressman Abraham Hamadeh introduced the Veterans Readiness & Employment Transparency Act last week in bipartisan collaboration with Rep. Juan Ciscomani along with Reps. Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Rep. Greg Murphy (R-NC), Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA), Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO), and Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA).
According to Hamadeh, the bill is designed to increase the access and the responsiveness of the Veterans Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program.
At present the VR&E program, which assists veterans with job training, education, employment accommodation, resume development, and job-seeking skills coaching, lacks a hotline for veterans and there is no accessible contact information provided by the regional offices where average wait times by regional office ranges from 2 weeks to 158 days.
At the Phoenix regional office, the average wait time for a veteran in need of assistance currently stands at 68 days to see a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for an initial evaluation. Congressman Hamadeh said in a statement, “Many say VR&E program is the Department of Veterans Affairs’ best-kept secret, but many veterans and campus administrators can’t get the Department’s help with the onerous application process—or even know where to begin. Veterans are often ignored by their VR&E counselors – with no recourse, adding to often extreme wait times.”
In a post to X the Congressman wrote, “Our veterans did not delay when heeding the call of our nation, & our nation cannot delay when our veterans call for assistance Congressman Hamadeh’s Veterans Readiness & Employment Transparency Act is common-sense legislation that has bipartisan support.”
The new bill will require the establishment of a hotline, that all regional offices “must display a name, email, and number online for vets with VR&E questions,” and that regional offices hold Q&A sessions on the VR&E program at every school in their area of responsibility. The new bill will also require an annual report on vocational training extension waivers and requires that they be approved or denied within 30 days.
Rep. Juan Ciscomani, who joined Hamadeh on the bill, wrote “When our veterans return home, they deserve to be able to easily access the support and benefits their service earned.”
“Unfortunately, due to unnecessary bureaucracy, many veterans have difficulty accessing VR&E programs that help with job training, education, and employment accommodations, especially for those who were injured in the line of duty. I am proud to join my fellow Arizona colleague Rep. Hamadeh in a bipartisan effort to make VR&E programs more accessible to veterans in my district, and across the country.”
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 | Mar 6, 2025 | Economy, News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona Congressman Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ8) issued a statement following the announcement by President Donald Trump of a pivotal deal with TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.) to bring $100 billion in investment for chip manufacturing plants in the U.S. over the next four years.
“Earlier this month, my team met with representatives of TSMC to discuss their plans for future jobs in Arizona, which should focus on tapping into our veteran workforce,” Hamadeh said in the statement. “They are clearly committed to President Trump’s American First Manufacturing agenda, bringing high-paying employment opportunities to CD8 allowing US leaders to increase the quality of life for our residents.”
TSMC established itself during the Biden Administration through the controversial 2020 CHIPS Act. It was at the center of a lawsuit in November due to its hiring practices allegedly favoring Taiwanese nationals as previously reported by AZ Free News. Their current Arizona facility is located within Hamadeh’s congressional district.
In December, the development of TSMC’s Phoenix facility was placed at risk by an unfavorable nonattainment status of ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) by the EPA under Biden, leading then-Congresswoman Debbie Lesko, Hamadeh’s predecessor to intervene.
In December 2022, TSMC announced a commitment to build a second fabrication facility (fab) in addition to its North Phoenix facility, increasing its total investment to $40 billion.
As detailed by President Trump in a press conference on Monday, the new investment is set to bring Arizona’s total number of TSMC facilities to five, with thousands of new jobs.
President Trump told reporters, “This $100 billion in new investment will go into building five cutting-edge fabrication facilities in the great state that we just discussed, Arizona, and will create thousands of jobs — many thousands of jobs, and they’re high-paying jobs. In total, today’s announcement brings Taiwan Semiconductor investments to about $165 billion — they’ve started already — among the largest new foreign direct investments in the United States.”
The President added, “Taiwan pretty much has a monopoly on that market. And I think ‘pretty much’ is not a term that’s even appropriate. They do have a monopoly. And this is a tremendous move by the most powerful company in the world. It’s a matter of economic security. It’s also a matter of national security for us.”
TSMC expansion is expected to create approximately 80,000 jobs over the next 5 years.
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 | Feb 28, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
A series of posts to X on Tuesday sparked a firestorm of controversy when Merissa Hamilton of Strong Communities Action-EZAZ.org made a bombshell allegation that Maricopa County Election officials were made well aware of the potential for printing and supply issues during the 2022 statewide elections. Hamilton alleged that county officials moved forward without addressing the issues, citing a series of emails detailing the Maricopa County GOP raising concerns to then-Recorder Stephen Richer and Maricopa County Board of Supervisors’ Election Manager Scott Jarrett.
The post gained national attention when it was shared by X owner and de facto head of the Department of Government Efficiency Elon Musk.
In the initial post Hamilton wrote, “Remember in 2022 when the nearly 70% of voting centers in Maricopa County failed on Election Day causing massive, long lines and voter disenfranchisement resulting in @KariLake and @AbrahamHamadeh barely losing? Maricopa County knew in advance their Election Day plan was set up for failure, and THEY LET IT FAIL!”
Hamilton noted that the emails were obtained for Strong Communities Action by The Gavel Project and civil rights activist and Arizona election attorney Ryan Heath saying, “Without his legal muscle we wouldn’t have secured it!”
In the thread that followed, Hamilton released several emails from then-Chairwoman of the Maricopa County Republican Committee Mickie Niland to Richer and Jarrett saying, “I remember hearing from Scott (Jarrett) at some point after the primary that there was a problem during the primary with some tabulators not reading correctly due to low ink. How long does it take you to get paper or ink to them if they run out? Is there a process for the voting locations to report when they are half out of paper? How far are the restocking trucks from the voting centers? Are you using the length of the lines to help you determine when more supplies are brought to the centers?“ She also asked if there was any way she could help.
Jarrett responded, “We’ve been monitoring turnout and are prepared,” adding that there was plenty of ballot paper and normal paper to print control slips as well as “sufficient toner and printer drums.”
Hamilton explained, “Several days ahead of Election Day, the Maricopa County GOP leadership warned Maricopa County that their Election Day plan would fail and disenfranchise voters. The Maricopa County BOS Election Director Scott Jarrett insisted everything would be fine saying he was ‘confident.’”
Niland, representing the Maricopa County GOP, even followed up with an email warning, “Trust is low and voting in person is the topic everyone wants to discuss with us. To us if you are basing your decisions off of history, we think things are different now.” Niland added, “Please consider this email the official raising of that flag.”
According to an investigation of the 2022 Maricopa County Election, former Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Ruth McGregor found that “many of the Oki B432 printers were not capable of reliably printing 20-inch ballots on 100-pound paper under election-day conditions.”
McGregor added, “The combined effect of the heavy paper, longer ballot, and intermittent burst of print demand pushed the printers to perform at the very edge of or past their capability, so that any decrease in fuser performance in an individual printer could result in problems.”
Replying to the post by Musk, Hamilton thanked the X owner for “bringing attention to this vital matter!” She also raised allegations that Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chairman Thomas Galvin has blocked newly elected County Recorder Justin Heap from accessing “the IT staff and responsibilities assigned to him in AZ law to secure and run our elections!”
Later in the afternoon, Maricopa County published a post to X that outlined the October 2024 agreement, which demarcated the election responsibilities of the Board of Supervisors and the Recorder’s Office. Galvin shared the post as well.
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.
