PHOENIX — Arizona state Democratic lawmakers announced an ethics complaint will be filed against a Republican legislator due to anti-Muslim comments he has made.
“We strongly condemn the hateful and dangerous anti-Muslim comments by Rep. John Gillette,” Arizona House Democratic leaders said in a media release Wednesday. “Vile and bigoted language like this has no place in public discourse, undermines the safety and dignity of Muslim communities and promotes fear and division.”
PRESS RELEASE: House Dem Leaders Condemn ‘Vile’ Anti-Muslim Comments by Rep. Gillette, Will File Ethics Complaint #azleg pic.twitter.com/DvY5yq0SWS
— Arizona House Democrats (@AZHouseDems) September 10, 2025
Reps. Oscar De Los Santos, Nancy Gutierrez, Quantá Crews and Stacey Travers wrote the complaint.
Arizona GOP lawmaker makes anti-Muslim remarks on social media
The controversy stems from a series of social media posts Gillette wrote last week, in which he called Muslims “savages” and claimed that they are trying to “bring Sharia Law to the U.S.”
The Kingman Republican also called a Muslim man featured in a video posted on the far-right X account Libs of TikTok an “anti-American terrorist” who needs to be sent “back to (the) s— hole he came from.”
Gillette stood by his social media posts in an interview with The Arizona Mirror, telling the online news outlet that he does not believe all Muslims should be considered extremists. However, he did link the religion with a terrorist attack on the American embassy in Benghazi, Libya, in 2012.
“I had friends killed in Benghazi by these savages,” Gillette said. “Now, I’m getting pissed off. They’re f—— savages.”
Why Arizona Democrats denounced Gillette’s comments
Arizona House Democrats are concerned with these comments as Islamophobia has been linked to acts of violence in Arizona, including the 2001 murder of a Sikh man at a Mesa gas station, which happened in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
“When used and sanctioned by public officials, it contradicts and weakens the core American values of equality, justice and religious freedom,” the Democratic lawmakers said. “To target them with hostility or suspicion is both un-American and unacceptable.”
They added that they intend to file an ethics complaint against Gillette for his comments.
Gillette denounced the four Democratic lawmakers for promising to file an ethics complaint over his comments.
“Same Dems that removed and hid Bibles from members in the House chambers. The same Dems that chant free Palestine and support Hamas. The same Dems that defend Islamic advisory boards to our law enforcement,” Gillette wrote on X.
“On the anniversary of 9/11. They tell us who they are, and people need to listen,” he added.
What happens after an ethics complaint is filed?
Under state law, after the complaint is filed, an ethics committee will launch an investigation.
If Gillette is found to have violated the state House of Representatives’ code of ethics, he could face punishment, which could include expulsion.
The post Arizona Democrats to file ethics complaint over GOP lawmaker’s anti-Muslim comments appeared first on KTAR.
