Sen. Wendy Rogers survives 'abusive media' and lives to raise funds off of it

Arizona’s most victimized state legislator appears to be bouncing back after her apparently harrowing experience with a member of the Capitol press corps.

On Wednesday, Rogers was so fearful for her life that she scurried to court in search of protection from Arizona Capitol Times reporter Camryn Sanchez.

By Friday, she was using her terror to line her pockets.

“Can you imagine for a moment?” Rogers asks, in her Friday plea for funds based upon her near-death experience. “You run for office to help people. The malicious, abusive media is tearing you down at every turn. You refuse their requests – so they stalk you at your home. Repeatedly.

“They harass your neighbors. You're afraid for your safety and your family.”

In other words, a reporter who covers the state Capitol rang the doorbell at Rogers’ Tempe and Chandler homes.

It's legit to ask where Rogers really lives

This, as part of an entirely legitimate investigation into whether Rogers really lives in her northern Arizona legislative district.

The one where she claims to be living.

In a trailer.

Despite having lived in Tempe for the last decade and buying a home in Chandler in January, wherein she signed a deed of trust claiming that she was “currently residing” in Tempe.

This, in addition to her biweekly claims for more than $200 a day in taxpayer-funded per-diem payments to legislators who live outside of Maricopa County.

Senators demand transparency: Even as they run from public view

Sanchez is a young reporter who is everything a young reporter should be. She’s smart, she’s professional and she does her homework.

She’s not afraid to ask tough questions or to sacrifice some shoe leather in pursuit of the truth.

Rogers acts so tough. Why is she scared?

Who knew that Rogers could be so easily terrified?

Rogers, who is a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel and a member of the Oath Keepers, the militia group that figured prominently in the storming of the U.S. Capitol.

Rogers, who has called for public hangings and was censured last year for threatening her fellow senators. (“We do not condone members threatening each other, to ruin each other, to incite violence, to call us ‘communist.’ We don’t do that to each other,” then-GOP Senate President Karen Fann said at the time.)

Rogers, who on Wednesday went running to court for an injunction against harassment, apparently afraid for her life. Pro-tem Flagstaff Justice of the Peace Amy Criddle granted her request, ordering Sanchez not to contact Rogers at her various homes.

Never mind that the only thing under attack here – the only thing threatened – is the First Amendment. A judge has now enjoined a reporter from doing her job.

Now a gleeful Rogers is profiting off of it.

Of course, she's profiting off her terror

“Maybe this is how we need to deal with the abusive, destructive media,” Rogers wrote in her Friday fundraising pitch. (Not to be confused with her Saturday pitch on the same subject). “We clearly know that this harassment is standard procedure among the Fake News media.

“Now you understand why I can never trust the media here to tell the truth. Any outlet that would stalk and threaten my family is not one that will ever give me – or any Republican – a fair shake.”

I can’t picture Camryn Sanchez stalking and threatening anyone, much less a battle-hardened public official who makes posters and videos of herself posing with her assault-style rifle and various other weapons.

One who assures us it is her, and not reporters like Sanchez, who will tell you the truth – if only you send her some money.

“Your involvement is crucial,” Rogers wrote, in her Friday plea for funds. “I can only get the word out to Arizonans about the progress being made in the Senate, and in the Elections Committee, with your support!”

By support, she means your cash. (She also takes credit cards.)

No doubt, she can use it to buy some protection from those monstrous members of the media, who come armed with the most terrifying threat of them all …

Questions.

Reach Roberts at laurie.roberts@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on Twitter at @LaurieRoberts.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Sen. Wendy Rogers now fundraising off her 'stalking' claim