by Corinne Murdock | Oct 28, 2022 | News
By Corinne Murdock |
On Thursday, Phoenix Police Department (PPD) arrested a homeless man charged with burglarizing Democratic gubernatorial candidate Katie Hobbs’ office. Hobbs accused her opponent, Kari Lake, of inciting the break-in.
It’s unlikely that the burglar, 36-year-old Daniel Mota Dos Reis, was motivated by the gubernatorial race or politics. One PPD officer told reporters that he recognized Dos Reis in Hobbs’ surveillance footage because they’d arrested him earlier that same day for a separate, unrelated burglary.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Dos Reis had recently earned his MBA and was an accountant for several different companies until this March. It’s unclear how Dos Reis went from accounting work to homelessness, but his social media activity indicates that the state of the economy was a factor. AZ Free News couldn’t find any connections between Dos Reis and Lake by press time, nor could we find support or opposition for either candidate by Dos Reis.
Furthermore, it’s unclear what Dos Reis’ political beliefs are. He shared President Joe Biden’s speech on the American Rescue Plan as well as a Bloomberg article lamenting the overturning of Roe v. Wade. However, he expressed disagreement with the Biden administration’s policies and lamented his decision to immigrate to America. Dos Reis hailed from Luanda, Angola, a South African country plagued with unrest for years.
Although Dos Reis’ burglary likely wasn’t motivated by politics, Hobbs doubled down on her blame of Lake. She rejected Lake’s claim that the burglary was staged and accused her opponent of refusing to condemn threats against her.
“Let me be clear, Kari Lake’s preposterous allegation that this break-in was staged is unfounded and her refusal to condemn the threats that have become common in our politics continues to stoke chaos,” stated Hobbs. “Our campaign to stop Kari Lake’s dangerous chaos from becoming our new reality and to build a safer, more prosperous state will not miss a beat in fighting for Arizonans.”
Hobbs refused reporter questions about the break-in during a Thursday event with Planned Parenthood of Arizona (PPAZ). She said she wanted to focus on questions about safe and legal abortions. Later that day, PPAZ announced that it was resuming abortions statewide temporarily.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
by Corinne Murdock | Oct 27, 2022 | News
By Corinne Murdock |
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Katie Hobbs blamed two years of rhetoric from her opponent, Republican Kari Lake, for a break-in at her campaign headquarters earlier this week. Lake denied Hobbs’ accusation, calling it “absurd.”
Hobbs’ campaign manager issued a statement on her behalf, insinuating that Lake was the source of all threats against Hobbs.
“Let’s be clear: for nearly two years Kari Lake and her allies have been spreading dangerous misinformation and inciting threats against anyone they see fit,” stated Hobbs. “The threats against Arizonans attempting to exercise their constitutional rights and their attacks on elected officials are the direct result of a concerted campaign of lies and intimidation.”
In statements to reporters, Lake compared Hobbs’ blame to that of the infamous Jussie Smollett hate crime hoax.
“That is absolutely absurd. And are you guys buying that? Are you really buying that? Because this sounds like a Jussie Smollett part two,” stated Lake. “I don’t even know where her campaign office is. I’m assuming it’s in a basement somewhere because that’s where she’s been campaigning.”
According to surveillance footage obtained by the Hobbs campaign, the suspect may be a dark-skinned, dark-haired man wearing a green t-shirt, gray pants, white tennis shoes, a watch on his left wrist, a backpack, and a metallic necklace. The Hobbs campaign reported that some unspecified items were taken.
As of Wednesday, Phoenix Police Department said that they hadn’t identified any suspects.
This wouldn’t be the first time Hobbs blamed Lake for unwanted aggressions toward her. Just last week, Hobbs claimed that Lake incited protests and threats of violence causing Arizona State University (ASU) to shut down campus. It appears those claims originated from one of Hobbs’ staffers, since the school didn’t report receiving threats and no protests occurred.
Hobbs’ announcement of a burglary at her headquarters comes hours after one of the latest polls revealed Lake leading Hobbs by 11 points.
That same poll by Fox News revealed incumbent Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) leading his Republican challenger Blake Masters by two points.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
by Corinne Murdock | Oct 25, 2022 | News
By Corinne Murdock |
A woke black “pastor” from California claimed Democrat gubernatorial candidate Katie Hobbs isn’t racist, prompting Talonya Adams, the staffer twice vindicated in court for racial discrimination she faced under Hobbs, to rebuke him.
Robinson, a Californian and former Arizonan who claims to be a Christian pastor despite violating Scripture, claimed Hobbs’ actions were mistakes.
“Contrary to popular beliefs, Katie Hobbs isn’t racist. If she was, I would let you know,” tweeted Robinson. “She made mistakes. We all do. AZ, she needs your vote on Nov 8th!”
In response, Adams said Robinson’s claim was a lie and quoted a Bible verse condemning liars.
“This is a lie Redeem,” wrote Adams. “Proverbs 12:22: Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.”
Robinson came to Phoenix earlier this week to do voter outreach on behalf of Democratic candidates.
Over the past decade until last year, Robinson was involved throughout Arizona as a “pastor” at various churches, a political activist, and politician. Robinson served as a “pastor” with All Nations Temple AME Zion Church in Tucson, then Ebenezer Church in Phoenix.
Robinson also served as a field director for the Arizona Democratic Party; a southwest organizing manager for Need to Impeach, a PAC to oppose former President Donald Trump founded and principally funded by Democratic dark money kingpin Tom Steyer; a state deputy political director for Steyer’s 2020 presidential run; a campaign manager for the scandal-ridden, leftist dark money nonprofits Arizona Coalition for Change/Our Voice Our Vote; founder of the Tucson chapter of Black Lives Matter (BLM); the Black Engagement Committee founder and Sergeant At Arms for the Maricopa County Democratic Party.
The “sex-positive” Robinson was also a failed 2018 Democratic candidate for the Arizona Senate. His candidacy took a hit from news coverage of domestic violence charges filed by his ex-girlfriend, with whom he had a child out of wedlock. (He has a total of three daughters, who he says live in Arizona while he lives in California). The court later dismissed the charges against Robinson because the prosecutor’s office wasn’t prepared to proceed.
It appears that Robinson’s latest efforts are a fusion of alleged “Christianity” and political activism: All Souls Movement, a nonprofit he founded and directs. Robinson pays himself to do “paid partnership” social media posts for his nonprofit; earlier this month, he posted a video on Instagram telling people to “not be an a**hole” and claiming that being a Christian doesn’t mean abstaining from sin. Notably, Robinson didn’t cite any Scripture to justify his claims.
“Jesus’ ministry was as simple as it. Literally, His ministry on earth was telling us don’t be an asshole. With the richer getting richer and poor getting poorer, and white supremacy going unchecked, and racism out of control, and homophobia, xenophobia, and transphobia, and sexism just out of control,” said Robinson. “We need to hear daily. Don’t be an asshole. That’s what true holiness is about. It’s not about long dresses and abstaining from certain things. It’s about treating other people right so that the world can be a better place.”
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
by Corinne Murdock | Oct 23, 2022 | News
By Corinne Murdock |
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Katie Hobbs issued unproven claims on Tuesday that Arizona State University (ASU) was required to shutter its campus due to protests and threats of violence incited by her opponent, Kari Lake.
Hobbs accused Lake of inciting death threats and racial slurs against ASU staff, though it appears that the claims originated from one of her campaign staffers. However, no protest occurred and no threats were reported.
According to the Yellow Sheet Report, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism Dean Battinto Batts said that they haven’t received any threats. Batts clarified that his directive for online classes were due to students and staff concerned about a “potential” for protestors and fellow journalists outside campus buildings.
“[W]e haven’t received any formal threats at the Cronkite School/Arizona PBS,” stated Batts.
It appears that the claim of threats and protests originated with Hobbs’ campaign. Last Thursday, an unnamed Hobbs staffer told CNN reporter Kyung Lah that their campaign’s security team met with ASU for Tuesday’s Q&A. According to the staffer, an unnamed, female ASU operator reported intercepting death threats and racist slurs.
“A @katiehobbs staffer tells me Hobbs security met w/ ASU re: security for the town hall next week,” stated Lah. “A rash of death threats have come in since @KariLake’s presser last night and the ASU operator picking up those threatening calls has been called racist slurs (she is Black).”
State Representative John Kavanagh (R-Fountain Hills) told the “Conservative Circus” that the Cronkite School’s cowardice would cause their namesake, Walter Cronkite, to turn over in his grave. Kavanagh declared that the Cronkite School twice violated one of the cardinal rules of journalism: not becoming the story.
“I would not be surprised if his ghost rises up tonight with a can of spray paint and go to that school and spray paint out his name,” said Kavanagh. “First they became the story when they violated their agreement with Clean Elections and put their thumb on the elections scale in favor of Katie Hobbs, and now this absolutely ridiculous story that journalism students are threatened and afraid to go to demonstrations.”
After her specially awarded Q&A session with AZPBS, Hobbs went on a Twitter rant lasting nine posts describing her vision for Arizona: increased diversity hires in state government, no limits on abortion, tax cuts for 800,000 families, a teacher salary raise averaging $14,000, border security, and immediate action on the water crisis. Several of her tweets called out Lake, arguing that Lake’s insistence on having a debate was a distraction from her inability to defend her policies.
These other claims made by Hobbs also don’t appear to pan out. Lake has consistently agreed to a debate against Hobbs, and engaged in numerous interviews with a wide range of media outlets.
Lake even invited Hobbs to debate her on Tuesday rather than do back-to-back Q&A sessions. She encouraged AZPBS to restructure their Q&A into a debate for Arizonans’ benefit.
Lake also invited Hobbs to her Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission (AZCCEC) interview on Sunday.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
by Corinne Murdock | Oct 20, 2022 | News
By Corinne Murdock |
The Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission (AZCCEC) gubernatorial debate will take place on Sunday, following its postponement last week. Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake promised to attend, but not Democratic candidate Katie Hobbs. It’s unlikely Hobbs will attend, given her consistent refusal to debate Lake.
Whereas before Hobbs had no Arizona PBS (AZPBS) or AZCCEC opportunities to showcase her platform due to her refusal to debate, Hobbs now has two opportunities: a special interview on Tuesday that caused the AZCCEC to split from AZPBS and the Arizona legislature to threaten to defund AZPBS, and the newly rescheduled Sunday debate.
Battinto Batts, dean of Arizona State University’s (ASU) Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, defended the AZPBS decision to work around AZCCEC and the Arizona law on candidate debates. ASU owns AZPBS.
“It is our responsibility as a news agency to provide the public with access to the candidates who are running for office so they can learn more and make informed decisions,” said Batts.
ASU President Michael Crow concurred with Batts’ sentiment, saying that while he didn’t direct AZPBS to make a special exception for Hobbs, he did stress the importance of doing so.
“[I] did indicate that we need to continue to fulfill our mission of unbiased and nonpartisan coverage of public figures and talk to important people in the public realm like Lake and Hobbs to have the public learn of their views, even if there is no debate,” stated Crow.
AZPBS also offered Lake a one-on-one interview for Tuesday. However, Lake rejected the offer. She said she would only accept Tuesday’s invitation if it were reformatted to be a debate between her and Hobbs.
Hobbs accused Lake of avoiding difficult questions by refusing the invitation — similar to the accusations Lake leveled against her for months.
AZCCEC partnered with KAZT/AZTV7 to host Sunday’s gubernatorial debate, scheduled for 5 pm. The AZPBS interview with Hobbs took place on Tuesday.
WATCH HERE: AZPBS CANDIDATE INTERVIEWS
Lake requested Hobbs to attend the Sunday debate multiple times.
Lake dismissed rumors that she or her supporters were planning to protest Hobbs’ interview at ASU.
Even so, Hobbs accused Lake of stirring up violence against her and ASU.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
