ARIZONA NEWS

Matt Salmon, GOP gubernatorial candidate, again calls for Sen. Wendy Rogers to resign

May 19, 2022, 11:42 AM | Updated: 1:51 pm

Republican Arizona gubernatorial candidate Matt Salmon and state Sen. Wendy Rogers (Facebook Photos...

Republican Arizona gubernatorial candidate Matt Salmon and state Sen. Wendy Rogers (Facebook Photos)

(Facebook Photos)

PHOENIX – Republican Arizona gubernatorial candidate Matt Salmon is again calling for state Sen. Wendy Rogers to resign, this time over her controversial response to the mass shooting in Buffalo.

“I think that this conspiracy theory she has, that the federal government is behind the latest horrible attack, that it was a red flag issue, it’s completely bogus,” Salmon told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show on Thursday.

“And I reject that and I reject her, and I believe that she should step aside.”

Authorities say Saturday’s shooting at a western New York grocery store was racially motivated. The 18-year-old suspect is accused of targeting the 10 victims who were killed, all Black, because of the color of their skin.

The GOP-led Arizona Senate voted earlier this week to open an ethics investigation into Rogers, a Republican, for her post on social media site Gab that said, “Fed boy summer has started in Buffalo.”

After Monday’s 24-3 vote, Rogers issued a statement denouncing the shooting. She said her “comment was taken completely out of context and became a false narrative” but failed to present an alternate explanation for what she meant.

Rogers’ latest controversy comes less than three months after her Senate colleagues voted March 1 to censure her for “conduct unbecoming of a senator” over her statements promoting violence against political opponents.

“The last time around when she said that anybody that disagreed with her, she was going to come after them and that that the people that she disagreed with should be hung on the gallows, I called on her to resign at that time,” Salmon said.

“And that’s the strongest thing that I can possibly say, and I reiterate that again now.”

Rogers has endorsed one of Salmon’s opponents, Kari Lake, in the Republican primary for governor. Salmon has been running third in recent polling behind Lake and Karrin Taylor Robson.

“I think it’s sad that … one of them helped her [Rogers] get elected and is proud of that and says that all the time,” Salmon said. “The other one pals around with her all the time and takes her pictures with her and has endorsed her and has been endorsed by her.

“She has her freedom of speech to say anything she wants, but the fact is also that we need people at the helm in this state that not only love freedom, but are not out there saying belligerent things.”

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Arizona News

(Pexels Photo)...

KTAR.com

Man who fell into tracks dead after being struck by train in Phoenix

A man was pronounced dead after being struck by a train following a fall on to the tracks in Phoenix on Sunday evening.

4 hours ago

(Photo by Olivier Touron/AFP via Getty Images)...

Associated Press

Judge affirms Arizona can no longer exclude gender-affirming care from state health plans

A federal judge has approved a final settlement eliminating a ban on providing gender-affirming care under Arizona state employee health insurance.

7 hours ago

Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone...

Brandon Gray

Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone announces he will not pursue 3rd term

Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone announced Monday he is not pursuing a third term and will be departing the office in January 2024.

9 hours ago

(Facebook Photo/Arizona Lottery)...

KTAR.com

Fantasy 5 jackpot ticket sold in Phoenix as Powerball prize exceeds $1B

It didn't take long for another Fantasy 5 jackpot to hit in Phoenix and lottery players could hit it big with the Powerball drawing on Monday night.

9 hours ago

Joe Perry, left, and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith perform Sept. 2, 2023, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...

Kevin Stone

Aerosmith postpones Phoenix concert because of Steven Tyler’s vocal cord injury

First the Boss, now Steven Tyler. Add Aerosmith to the list of classic rockers forced to postpone their Phoenix concerts because of health issues.

10 hours ago

gavel hitting wood...

KTAR.com

Scottsdale man sentenced to prison for not paying employee taxes

A Scottsdale man was sentenced last week to over a year in prison for failing to pay the Internal Revenue Service federal income taxes that were withheld from employees.

11 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

...

SCHWARTZ LASER EYE CENTER

Key dates for Arizona sports fans to look forward to this fall

Fall brings new beginnings in different ways for Arizona’s professional sports teams like the Cardinals and Coyotes.

Sanderson Ford...

Sanderson Ford

Sanderson Ford congratulates D-backs’ on drive to great first half of 2023

The Arizona Diamondbacks just completed a red-hot first half of the major league season, and Sanderson Ford wants to send its congratulations to the ballclub.

...

Ability360

At Ability360, every day is Independence Day

With 100 different programs and services, more than 1,500 non-medically based home care staff, a world-renowned Sports & Fitness Center and over 15,000 people with disabilities served annually, across all ages and demographics, Ability360 is a nationwide leader in the disability community.

Matt Salmon, GOP gubernatorial candidate, again calls for Sen. Wendy Rogers to resign