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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

For months, a document with an explosive, unproven sexual assault claim about AG hopeful Rodney Glassman has been passed among politicos. Last week, supporters of Warren Petersen, Glassman's GOP primary rival, publicized it. By @stephenlemons.bsky.social:

phoenixnewtimes.com

Petersen allies pushing decades-old, unproven sex claim about Glassman

Warren Petersen supporters have pumped claims about rival AG hopeful Rodney Glassman and filed a formal citizen complaint.

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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

The claim comes from an affidavit written by Mike von Gold, a former friend of Glassman's younger brother, Jeremy. In it, Von Gold claims Jeremy confessed that his older brother sexually abused him as a minor. Story: www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/arizona...

At the root of the allegations are the claims made by Von Gold, a former friend and business associate of Jeremy Glassman. In a February affidavit that has circulated in political circles — and which has since been posted online, albeit in heavily redacted form, by Republican activist and Petersen ally Merissa Caldwell — Von Gold claimed that Jeremy Glassman confessed to him that his older brother had sexually abused him when he was a child. Von Gold has also shared purported audio of a Glassman-associated attorney saying that Jeremy Glassman had told him the same thing.

For several months, New Times has been looking into the affidavit, which a confidential source provided earlier this year. New Times has also spoken to Von Gold, whose allegations against Rodney Glassman are neither ironclad nor gossamer-thin. They are old, unproven and second-hand. And considering that he is also seeking money from the Glassman family to settle an old business grievance, Von Gold is motivated both financially and by a desire for what he calls “justice.”

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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

Jeremy Glassman vehemently denied the allegations and accused Mike Von Gold of attempting to extort his family. Story: www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/arizona...

“These allegations being spread around on the internet are false,” Jeremy Glassman wrote. “Mr. Von Gold used to work for me and my company and he has been trying to extort me for quite some time, most recently demanding $500,000. He’s now using my brother’s campaign as another avenue to try to escalate his attempt at extortion. I have filed a criminal complaint with the city of Tempe against Mr. Von Gold. I intend to prosecute fully any and all claims against anyone who aids this individual or publishes false and defamatory statements regarding this matter.”

The Tempe Police Department confirmed that someone named Jeremy Glassman has filed a report, but did not provide any further details or the report. New Times has placed a public records request for the report but has not yet received it.

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