Ethics complaint filed against Arizona Democrat who shared ICE location information

PHOENIX – Arizona state Sen. Jake Hoffman on Tuesday filed an ethics complaint against Sen. Analise Ortiz and called for the Democrat’s expulsion for posting about immigration enforcement activity.

Hoffman, a Republican, wants the Arizona Senate to hold Ortiz accountable for what he called “reckless” and “dangerous” actions.

🚨FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Senator @JakeHoffmanAZ Files Ethics Complaint Against Democrat Lawmaker for Endangering Public Safety, Undermining Law Enforcement

Full press release: https://t.co/1pgMzArIV8 pic.twitter.com/lqtJ0jLZv7

— AZSenateRepublicans (@AZSenateGOP) September 3, 2025

“By publicly posting alerts about federal law enforcement activity, she actively tipped off individuals being pursued by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), jeopardizing the safety of officers and law-abiding citizens,” Hoffman said in a press release Wednesday.

Hoffman filed his formal complaint to the Senate Ethics Committee a month after Ortiz posted information about ICE activity in south Phoenix on her Instagram story. The District 24 Democrat’s post drew widespread attention – and condemnation from Republicans – after it was shared by Libs of TikTok, a right-wing social media influencer.

Sen. Analise Ortiz defends sharing information about ICE activity

Ortiz has been a staunch critic of the Trump administration’s immigration policies. In April, she and other Democratic lawmakers walked out while Tom Homan, President Donald Trump’s border czar, was addressing a joint session of the Legislature.

Ortiz has maintained that sharing public information about law enforcement activity is protected by the First Amendment, likening it to a traffic app alerting drivers to police presence on a freeway.

She issued the following statement Wednesday in response to Hoffman’s ethics complaint:

Masked, armed men showed up at a school in our community and I reshared a post to let my Instagram followers know. Now, Arizona Republicans are going to extreme levels of intimidation to block me from doing my job for the people of LD 24. They want police operations to happen in secret. They want Arizonans terrified to talk about what we are witnessing happening to our friends, family, and neighbors. The Trump administration is violating the constitution and we are bearing witness. These tactics are straight from the authoritarian playbook and eerily reflect the darkest moments in world history. The future of our democracy depends on bravery. I choose to remain brave.

What does Sen. Jake Hoffman seek in ethics complaint?

On the other side of the issue, Hoffman believes Ortiz should face severe disciplinary action, preferably expulsion.

“Every law enforcement officer deserves to go home safe at the end of their shift,” he said. “Every Arizona family deserves to know their elected leaders are protecting them, not siding with lawlessness. Sen. Ortiz’s behavior crosses every line of ethics, professionalism and basic decency. When an elected official openly undermines law enforcement, puts lives at risk and erodes the rule of law, there must be accountability. The people of Arizona expect and deserve better.”

If there aren’t enough votes to expel Ortiz, Hoffman wants his colleagues to remove her from all committees and take away her office, parking space, administrative staff support and unrestricted keycard access to the Senate building.

With the Legislature out of session until January, it’s not clear when the Senate Ethics Committee might carry out an investigation and bring the issue to the Senate floor. Sen. Shawnna Bolick, who chairs the committee, said she isn’t taking Hoffman’s complaint lightly.

🚨FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Senate Ethics Committee Chairwoman Takes Action on Complaint Against Senator Ortiz, Refers to U.S. Attorney's Office for Federal Review

Full press release: https://t.co/WUFDk4uzlu@ShawnnaLMBolick pic.twitter.com/h4f3xCyBHo

— AZSenateRepublicans (@AZSenateGOP) September 3, 2025

“The Senate Ethics Committee has not met this year, and before addressing the complaint, the committee must first adopt its operating rules,” Bolick said in a press release. “Once those rules are established, the committee will conduct a thorough review of the facts, strictly adhering to constitutional standards, as well as applicable state and local laws. I have distributed the complaint to all committee members and Sen. Ortiz in a single email to ensure full transparency.”

In the meantime, Bolick sent the U.S. Attorney’s Office a letter about Hoffman’s allegations and asked for the case to be reviewed for possible violations of federal law.

“I am committed to ensuring that it is handled with the full weight of the law and the Constitution,” she said. “Until then, the process remains with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, whose review will inform the committee’s next steps.”

Bolick isn’t the first Republican state senator to notify federal authorities about Ortiz. Last month, Senate President Warren Petersen said he referred the matter for investigation to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona.

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