Arizona state senator and conspiracy theorist Wendy Rogers has quickly become a superstar among pro-Trump conservatives. Rogers repeatedly amplifies fantasies that the 2020 election was somehow stolen from Trump by Democrats engaging in widespread election fraud.
Rogers also claims to be a champion of free speech. Earlier this year, she spoke at the America First Political Action Conference, a far-right gathering of white nationalists.
There, Rogers told the crowd:
"Standing up to tyranny is our American way. It sets us apart from the losers who have given into oppression around our world. We need more speech that people don't like. That's the point of the First Amendment. We are in this mess because we've watered down our speech. Did our founding fathers water down their speech? Did Jesus or the apostles water down their speech? No. Capitulation is why we are being overrun by the LGTBQ movement. It's why our border is being overrun by illegals and it's why babies are dying in the womb."
She also said that the U.S. needed " more gallows," falsely claiming that people are being forcibly vaccinated in the United States.
But in recent posts on the right-wing social media outlet Telegram, Rogers said the free speech she claims to value doesn't apply to those she doesn't like.
Quite the sequence of Telegram posts from Arizona lawmaker Wendy Rogers. pic.twitter.com/rPTOQ48cuY
— Nick Martin (@nickmartin) April 15, 2022
Rogers wrote in the posts:
“Freedom of Speech is a human right granted by God. Companies and governments who go against this are going against rights that make up the essence of humanity. ... The nasty vile satanic demons who post wicked pictures and videos on my channel have a special place in hell for their evil. Get behind me Satan!”
The diatribe was roundly condemned.
They are seriously so off. Those that espouse this kind of nonsense, I mean.
I have to battle my own mother who holds to the hateful rhetoric. I just resign myself to the truth - she’s a low-information voter. She is heavily guided by fear.
We are worlds apart in beliefs. https://t.co/MUzDamC2tH
— Furrrrrrrr-ocious (@Beeberton) April 15, 2022
I don't remember the Bible teaching free speech. Do you?
Apparently, Wendy thinks it only applies to her. Must be just her bible. https://t.co/1nEwdX1XYe
— Jane Eichenberger (@Janewhatever1) April 16, 2022
A reminder that the GOP’s commitment to free speech relates exclusively to expressing racist or bigoted views without consequences https://t.co/5ewGJXlmqd
— Let's Go Gophers (@Lionel_Hutz_Esq) April 15, 2022
Bonkers. https://t.co/2vlwAJtSek
— GirlSparky 🇺🇸🌻🌻🇺🇦 (@girlsparky_) April 15, 2022
It’s still stunning how many people believe that the meaning of free speech is “Free Speech I agree with” https://t.co/l7S314iGAI
— Mike Nolte (@padraig5762) April 15, 2022
The hypocrisy wasn't lost on anyone.
Rogers was censured by the state legislature earlier this year for her appearance at AFPAC.
@kileywrestling/Bluesky
