Andy Biggs defends record of protecting women, children amid Katie Hobbs’ FLDS accusations

U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs, the Republican nominee for Arizona governor, is defending his record of protecting women and children amid allegations by Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs that he enabled abuse over a decade ago by a polygamous sect in Colorado City.

“She can say whatever she wants to say, but I’ll stack my record up against hers. And by the way, that’s why police associations endorse me,” Biggs told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Arizona’s Morning News on Friday.

Hobbs has accused her opponent in the Nov. 3 general election of stopping a bill that would have dissolved the Colorado City Marshal’s Office in 2013, when Biggs was the state Senate president.

The Colorado City Marshal’s Office was scrutinized for allowing leaders of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or FLDS, to abuse women and children for years.

The FLDS is a breakaway polygamous sect based in the neighboring communities of Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah. It has no current connection to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which forbids polygamy.

“These marshals were protecting these pedophiles and allowing them to continue to abuse and rape women and children and force them into marriage,” Hobbs told KTAR News’ Outspoken with Bruce & Gaydos on Aug. 27. “And Andy Biggs stopped this bill.”

Andy Biggs provides examples in defense of his record

Biggs noted Friday that he voted yes on a failed 2012 bill that would have decertified the Colorado City Marshal’s Office. The East Valley Republican said he and several law enforcement advocacy groups opposed the 2013 version because they had issues with the way it was written.

“First of all, that particular bill was so poorly crafted that the Fraternal Order of Police and the Arizona Police Association opposed it. Second of all, I have a record on protecting women and children that’s unparalleled,” he said.

Biggs also defended his record by citing his involvement with two federal bills that passed the House recently, the Coercion and Sexual Abuse Free Environment (CSAFE) Act and Kayleigh’s Law.

Biggs introduced the CSAFE Act, which would make it a federal crime to use the internet to threaten or coerce minors. He cosponsored Kayleigh’s Law, which would protect victims of certain federal sex crimes and violent crimes from being contacted by convicted perpetrators.

“That’s why at the national level I’m considered a fighter against human trafficking. … Whatever she wants to say it’s bogus, it’s crap, and it’s a lie,” he said of Hobbs.

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