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Zach Buchanan

@zhbuchanan.bsky.social
2.1K followers 269 following 536 posts

Reporter for Axios Phoenix. Former ballwriter. I watch a distressing amount of television.

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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 6h
There are eight candidates running to succeed Laura Pastor representing District 4 on the Phoenix City Council. It's a lot to wade through, but I did my best to untangle it here. Link: www.axios.com/local/phoeni...
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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 22h
NEW: The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office has paid $270K to outsource some internal investigations to a firm with ties to the Cyber Ninjas audit. A report by the court-appointed monitor questioned MCSO's vetting processes.
axios.com
Sheriff's office outsourced investigations to Cyber Ninjas-tied firm
The firm, AZ Truthfinder, has been paid $270,000 since June 2025.
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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
The Valley reduced heat deaths in 2025, crediting expanded mitigtion efforts. This year, heat deaths could again top 600. "We have every resource available this summer. So that is really not an issue at play, which does not make sense to us." More:
axios.com
The Valley is on pace for a dramatic spike in heat deaths
The county could see more than 600 heat deaths for the third time in four years.
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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Tempe's weighing a proposed ban of city use of ALPR cameras. It faces an uphill battle. At last night's council meeting, public speakers overwhelmingly supported it. Tempe Police Chief Kenneth McCoy does not. Some councilmembers expressed concern. More:
axios.com
Tempe weighs first-of-its-kind municipal ALPR camera ban
The proposed ban faces an uphill battle at the Tempe City Council.
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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
NEW: Andy Biggs left positive reviews for two anti-immigrant books on his Goodreads account, including one that made sweeping derogatory claims about Latinos and "rape culture." More here:
axios.com
Scoop: Biggs left positive reviews of Islamophobic and anti-immigrant books
Biggs is seeking to project a more moderate image in his bid to unseat Gov. Katie Hobbs.
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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Phoenix is still having trouble hiring enough officers to keep up with departures, with more than 500 positions still unfilled. More:
axios.com
The Phoenix Police Department is still more than 500 officers short
The department has faced recruiting and retention challenges for years.
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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
NEW: Diamondbacks exec Derrick Hall tells me that lease negotiations with the public body that owns Chase Field have been "non-productive." A host of repairs, to be paid for by public money set aside in a 2025 bill, are on hold until the lease is ironed out.
axios.com
Exclusive: Diamondbacks say Chase Field lease talks are "non-productive"
Millions in repairs are on hold until a new lease is signed.
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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Jay Feely loudly touted his endorsement from President Trump in the primary, but that could come back to bite him in a district that has proven willing to vote against Trump-endorsed candidates. From me:
axios.com
Jay Feely's Trump endorsement could hurt him in November
Feely says he's "nobody's rubber stamp."
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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
@sepinwall.bsky.social is the raccoon episode of adults a bottle episode
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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
"Bit fast, innit?" "Annoy your mother-in-law, arrive alive" "NGL, Crazy driving, Gives major cringe" These are our favorite rejected entries from ADOT's highway safety message contest.
axios.com
The funniest rejected entries from ADOT's safety sign contest
It's not always safe to laugh and drive.
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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Arizona is making a push to host games in the 2031 men's Rugby World Cup, which will be held in North America for the first time. Read about the bid here:
axios.com
Arizona is making a push to host the Rugby World Cup
The bid would be to host games for the 2031 tournament.
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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
An Arizona Board of Regents agenda reveals that ASU is set to extend women's basketball coach Molly Miller, bumping her salary and adding an extra year. Miller led the Sun Devils to the NCAA tournament in her first season with the program.
axios.com
ASU is set to extend women's hoops coach Molly Miller
Miller led the Sun Devils team to NCAA tournament appearance in her first year.
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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Far-right state Sen. Jake Hoffman recruited Kimberly Yee to run for superintendent and Alexander Kolodin to run for secretary of state. Their campaigns have turned around and spent more than $200K on Hoffman's political communications firm. Story:
axios.com
Jake Hoffman is making money off candidates he recruited
Jake Hoffman is an influential far-right state senator from Gilbert.
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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
For months, the post office has seemingly forgotten the Phoenix neighborhood of Westwood Village & Estates. Residents told me of going without mail for weeks or even months, and crucial pieces of mail being marked "undeliverable" and returned to sender.
axios.com
This Phoenix neighborhood has been forgotten by the post office
Some residents haven't received mail for nearly two months.
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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
The ACLU is making a strategic retreat on its lawsuit challenging Prop. 314, which makes being in the country without authorization a state crime. It dismissed its suit today but promises to refile when there's any evidence of a Prop. 314 arrest.
axios.com
ACLU drops challenge to Arizona border law
But the move might not be a final say on the matter.
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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Arizona got its infrastructure grade today. It was, uh, not glowing. "While this grade is ahead of many states around the country, an average grade of C is not acceptable." What will it take to boost that evaluation? Lots of $$$$$$$.
axios.com
Arizona's infrastructure is barely scraping by, engineers say
The state received a "not acceptable" C grade.
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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
We had two Class 5 dust storms this week, the first time that's ever happened, at least according to the data we have from the last 16 years. Before this, the Valley had seen only four Class 5 haboobs ever. Story:
axios.com
History made: Valley sees two Class 5 haboobs in same week
Only four other Phoenix storms in the past 16 years were that big.
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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
A new AARP poll shows Katie Hobbs with an 8-point lead over Andy Biggs Kris Mayes has a 5-point lead over Warren Petersen. Still three months to go.
axios.com
Katie Hobbs comfortably leads Andy Biggs in newly released poll
The poll also shows a smaller advantage for Attorney General Kris Mayes.
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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
NEW: Former Mesa Mayor John Giles, reportedly to be Katie Hobbs' running mate, left the GOP earlier this year and switch to "no party preference." Being a Never Trump Republican was a large part of his appeal, so the implications of the move are unclear.
axios.com
Former Mesa Mayor John Giles has left the GOP
Giles is potentially the running mate for Gov. Katie Hobbs.
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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
NEW: Andy Biggs has tapped former state lawmaker Sine Kerr as his nominee for lieutenant governor.
axios.com
Andy Biggs taps Sine Kerr as his pick for lieutenant governor
Arizona voters overwhelmingly voted to create the lieutenant governor position in 2022.
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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
Life announcement, Part 2! It's my first day as a reporter for Axios Phoenix. Super excited to be teaming with/learning from @jeremyduda.bsky.social and continuing to bring you essential reporting on the Valley.
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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
I'm not leaving Phoenix or even the Phoenix news scene. But today is my last day at Phoenix New Times, and I'm really going to miss all the wonderful people who make it such a special place.
phoenixnewtimes.com
It's my last day leading New Times' news coverage. I'll miss this place
Spending two-plus years as a part of this paper's storied history has been an incredible privilege.
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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
We have the 922-page DPS report on the death of Christian Diaz Rendon, whom a Phoenix cop shot as Rendon subdued an intruder. Half of it is redacted, including 363 fully redacted pages in a row. Still, it provides new details. Story by @csosin.bsky.social: www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/report-...
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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
Personal news: I am entering the final two weeks of my time at Phoenix New Times. I already know my next step, but you'll have to wait to find out what it is.
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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
Robert Gawlitza, the ex-Circle K manager who "bought" the disputed $12.8 million-winning ticket a day after the drawing, isn't going down without a fight. He says he followed Circle K rules to buy it, and says the company fired him for doing so. Story:
phoenixnewtimes.com
Manager says he followed Circle K policy to buy $12.8M lotto ticket
Robert Gawlitza says when he bought what he knew was the winning ticket, a day after the drawing, he followed Circle K rules.
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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
January: Pinal County Sheriff's deputy roughs up deaf 79-year-old Tom Garro April: Garro talks to @csosin.bsky.social, says he's considering a lawsuit May: Pinal County Attorney decides to file charges against Garro Interesting timing, huh? Story:
phoenixnewtimes.com
Elderly deaf man tackled by sheriff's deputy charged with resisting arrest
A sheriff's deputy was so rough with Tom Garro -- a 79-year-old deaf Lyft driver -- that Garro had to go to the hospital.
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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
In an interview with @morgfisch.bsky.social, GOP state Rep. Quang Nguyen called Turning Point COO Tyler Bowyer a "shitter" for tweeting a racist comment at him yesterday. Bowyer questioned whether Nguyen, who fled Vietnam when he was 12, can speak English.
phoenixnewtimes.com
Turning Point leader tweets racist dig at Asian GOP state lawmaker
Turning Point COO Tyler Bowyer asked GOP state Rep. Quang Nguyen -- who fled Vietnam as a child -- if he could speak English.
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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Before passing an ordinance to restrict homeless aid in city parks, the city of Phoenix sent out a survey. The questions were slanted toward support of the ordinance. Yet the responses were overwhelmingly against it. Phoenix buried it. By @csosin.bsky.social:
phoenixnewtimes.com
Phoenix buried slanted parks ordinance survey after it backfired
A city survey on an ordinance to restrict feeding homeless people in parks appeared engineered to drum up support. It didn't.
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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Ruben Gallego is dropping Graham Platner over sexual assault allegations, not long after Gallego had to do the same with Eric Swalwell. His office did not answer questions from @morgfisch.bsky.social about whether Gallego's vetting needs to be more thorough.
phoenixnewtimes.com
Ruben Gallego yanks Graham Platner endorsement over rape claim
For the second time this year, Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego has had to walk back an endorsement over sexual misconduct claims.
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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
We've talked to three people who described aggressive encounters with Pinal County Sheriff's deputy Aaron McRae, who tackled a deaf Lyft driver in January. Three others have filed complaints against him. He's been a deputy for 18 months. By @csosin.bsky.social:
phoenixnewtimes.com
Complaints trail sheriff's deputy who roughed up deaf Lyft driver
Three complaints have been filed against Aaron McRae in 18 months, and three more people had distressing encounters with him.
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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Two pastors and a PAC have filed a challenge to the GOP's anti-trans ballot measure that bars trans girls from playing girls' sports and forces them to use boys' restrooms. The filing also claims the bill language outlaws single-occupancy restrooms.
phoenixnewtimes.com
2 pastors file court challenge to GOP-backed anti-trans ballot referral
If passed, the measure would bar trans girls from playing girls' sports and using girls' restrooms and locker rooms.
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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Alejandro Romero, the Tolleson student who was punched in the face by a school resource officer in 2024, is suing over it. An internal school district investigation already found the now-former cop, Eric Hendrix, used excessive force. By @morgfisch.bsky.social:
phoenixnewtimes.com
Tolleson student sues over 2024 beating by school resource officer
Ex-Tolleson cop Eric Hendrix punched and kneed Alejandro Vasquez Romero. A school investigation found it to be excessive.
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Reposted by Zach Buchanan
Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
We previously reported how, in January, a Pinal County Sheriff's deputy roughed up a 79-year-old deaf Lyft driver. Now we have 911 audio from the driver's passenger, who told us she feared the deputy might shoot her. Story by @csosin.bsky.social: www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/audio-l...
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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
We previously reported how, in January, a Pinal County Sheriff's deputy roughed up a 79-year-old deaf Lyft driver. Now we have 911 audio from the driver's passenger, who told us she feared the deputy might shoot her. Story by @csosin.bsky.social: www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/audio-l...
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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
Dilan Paredes, the Tempe eighth-grader detained by ICE outside his school alongside his mother in May, has returned home. Rep. Greg Stanton told us that the pair landed at Sky Harbor today after weeks in ICE lockup in Texas. By @morgfisch.bsky.social:
phoenixnewtimes.com
Tempe teen taken by ICE outside his school in May has returned home
In May, ICE arrested Dilan Paredes' mother before collecting him from school at her request. They spent weeks in detention.
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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
Phoenix is being sued -- again -- over its parks ordinance restricting food distribution and medical treatment for homeless people in parks. Two nonprofits, Circle the City and Valle del Sol, say it violates the First Amendment. By @csosin.bsky.social:
phoenixnewtimes.com
Phoenix sued again over parks ordinance restricting homeless aid
Circle the City and Valle del Sol are taking Phoenix to court over the ordinance, claiming it violates the First Amendment.
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Reposted by Zach Buchanan
Phoenix New Times @phoenixnewtimes.com · 15/06/2026
Sheriff Joe's shindig had an Elvis impersonator, an ex-mob enforcer, a disgraced former congressman and an alleged pedophile. 🔗: www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/joe-ar…
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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Should you reach 94 years old, may your well-wishers be of a higher caliber than former mob hitman Sammy Gravano and alleged pedophile David Stringer. @stephenlemons.bsky.social reports from Joe Arpaio's birthday bash:
phoenixnewtimes.com
Joe Arpaio's 94th birthday party was rife with scuzzy has-beens
Sheriff Joe's shindig had an Elvis impersonator, an ex-mob enforcer, a disgraced former congressman and an alleged pedophile.
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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
Someone get @thr.com a copy-editor
The actress Carrie Coon. In words next to her is her name and "The Guilded Age," which is misspelled
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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
BREAKING: A judge barred Phoenix from enforcing its parks ordinance against a church group. She said the ordinance, which bans giving food to homeless people in parks without a permit, likely violates the group's right to free exercise of religion. By @csosin.bsky.social:
phoenixnewtimes.com
Judge bars Phoenix from enforcing parks ordinance against church group
Phoenix restricted giving homeless people food in parks. A judge said that likely violates the group's First Amendment rights.
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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
County attorney Rachel Mitchell has a social media troll. She sicced the cops on him -- Phoenix PD, the AG's office, even the FBI. Nothing stuck. State bar charges did. By @stephenlemons.bsky.social, how the county's top prosecutor got her loudest critic disbarred.
phoenixnewtimes.com
How Maricopa County's top prosecutor got her loudest critic disbarred
Rachel Mitchell struck out on getting cops to charge a man who trolls her online. The state bar was more receptive.
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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
Phoenix cops and park rangers used a "honeypot" on homeless people in a park. Rangers left gates open after closing time. Unhoused people entered. Later, they and cops locked all but one gate, trapping them and issuing trespass notices. By @csosin.bsky.social:
phoenixnewtimes.com
Phoenix cops used 'honeypot' to trap, trespass homeless people in park
Cops and park rangers left gates open after hours to coax unhoused people inside before locking them in and trespassing them.
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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
Sam Stone is a top official in the Maricopa County Recorder's Office, which oversees voter registration. He likes to tweet a lot of far-right, reactionary shit. And he likes to tweet it while at work, on the taxpayer dime. By @morgfisch.bsky.social:
phoenixnewtimes.com
Top Recorder's Office official loves to tweet heinous shit at work
Sam Stone, the chief of staff for Recorder Justin Heap, uses work time to blast out drivel about Democrats, Muslims and more.
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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
A new Phoenix ordinance, which prohibits unpermitted food distribution and medical treatment for homeless people in parks, takes effect today. At the same time, a church group is suing the city over it, arguing it violates the Constitution. By @csosin.bsky.social:
phoenixnewtimes.com
Church group sues Phoenix over parks ordinance limiting homeless aid
The ordinance, which goes into effect today, requires permits to distribute food or provide medical treatment in city parks.
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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Seeing a photo of Democratic state Rep. Anna Abeytia and her newborn, GOP state Rep. Nick Kupper decided to bring up that Abeytia once had an abortion. He got screamed at online and, after initially defending himself, deleted the posts. By @csosin.bsky.social:
phoenixnewtimes.com
GOP lawmaker sees photo of colleague's baby, brings up her abortion
After Democratic state Rep. Anna Abeytia brought her newborn to the legislature, GOP state Rep. Nick Kupper weighed in.
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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
The Krysten Sinema homewrecker lawsuit in North Carolina is about to get more personal. Sinema's attorney sought -- and is set to receive -- therapy records for the woman whose husband Sinema had an affair with. By @morgfisch.bsky.social:
phoenixnewtimes.com
Sinema wants therapy records for the woman whose husband she seduced
Kysten Sinema is being sued by the ex of her bodyguard-turned-lover, and she wants to see what the woman says in therapy.
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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
In February, Phoenix police and Arizona state troopers killed Jesus Flores in his car as he bizarrely tried to flee despite it being hobbled. His partner, Danielle, had been in the car with him minutes before cops fired a barrage of bullets into it. She tells her story to @csosin.bsky.social:
phoenixnewtimes.com
Police shot and killed a man in her car. She's burdened by questions
Cops killed Jesus Flores in February as he tried to flee in a hobbled car. His partner, Danielle Flores, was there.
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Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
Phoenix won a pyrrhic victory over fired cop Dusten Mullen. A judge denied Mullen's request to reinstate him. But she also largely took Mullen's side, saying he'd shown that the city likely retaliated against him for exercising free speech. By @csosin.bsky.social:
phoenixnewtimes.com
Fired Phoenix cop's First Amendment claims 'are strong,' judge says
Dusten Mullen says Phoenix retaliated against him after he counterprotested at an anti-ICE demonstration while off duty.
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Reposted by Zach Buchanan
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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Reposted by Zach Buchanan
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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