Arizona House Democrats say they plan to file an ethics complaint against a Republican legislator over a series of anti-Muslim comments posted online, escalating tensions at the state Capitol.
In a statement released Wednesday, Democratic leaders condemned remarks by Rep. John Gillette, a Republican from Kingman, calling them “hateful and dangerous.” They argued that his language — which included referring to Muslims as “savages” and accusing them of trying to impose Sharia law in the United States — undermines public safety and stokes fear within Muslim communities.
The complaint was drafted by Reps. Oscar De Los Santos, Nancy Gutierrez, Quantá Crews, and Stacey Travers. Their action follows Gillette’s posts on X, formerly Twitter, where he also labeled a Muslim man featured in a viral video as an “anti-American terrorist” who should be sent “back to the s—hole he came from.”
Gillette has not backed away from the statements. In an interview with The Arizona Mirror, he said he did not consider all Muslims extremists but defended his choice of words by citing the 2012 attack on the U.S. Embassy in Benghazi, Libya. “I had friends killed in Benghazi by these savages,” he said. “Now, I’m getting pissed off. They’re f—— savages.”
Democrats countered that such rhetoric contributes to a hostile climate for Muslims and other communities. They pointed to past incidents of Islamophobia in Arizona, including the 2001 murder of a Sikh man in Mesa that occurred in the aftermath of 9/11. “When used and sanctioned by public officials, it contradicts the core American values of equality, justice, and religious freedom,” the caucus said in its release.
Gillette responded by criticizing Democrats on social media, accusing them of hypocrisy and claiming they were using the anniversary of 9/11 for political purposes.
Once filed, the ethics complaint will be reviewed by a House committee, which can investigate and, if warranted, recommend penalties. Under Arizona law, sanctions could range from censure to expulsion from the Legislature.
