GOP lawmaker hit with ban after using state Senate video room to talk to pro-Hitler host

A Republican lawmaker is no longer allowed to access legislative broadcast equipment after the Arizona Mirror reported on May 3 that he used the Senate’s broadcast studio to appear on a far-right talk show last week with a host who has declared Adolf Hitler a “hero.” On May 1, State Sen. Anthony Kern appeared on ”The Stew Peters Show” to discuss a Drag Story Hour that was hosted the day before in a basement meeting room in the Arizona House of Representatives. “I said, ‘Hey, Arizona, this is where your tax dollars are going,’” Kern told Peters, appearing from the legislative broadcast facility on the Senate’s first floor, which is used by lawmakers of both parties to film videos. Peters praised Kern and made the false claim that the drag event in the House included children — none were present — calling the drag king that spoke to the small group Tuesday a “mentally ill satanic pedophile.” The event did not include children and Kern did not push back on any of Peters’ claims. Kern, who was indicted last month by Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes for his role in Donald Trump’s fake elector scheme, sparked controversy in April when he invited members of his church to pray and speak in tongues on the Senate floor ahead of a key procedural vote on repealing Arizona’s Civil War-era abortion ban.