Arizona Republicans Seek to Prosecute Pro-Abortion Protesters Over Attempted Breach of Senate Building

Riot police surround the Arizona Capitol after protesters reached the front of the Arizona Sentate building following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, in Phoenix, on June 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona’s Republican lawmakers say they will review footage of the June 24 pro-abortion protest and attempted breach of the state Senate building in Phoenix to identify those involved.

“We are a state that believes in law and order,” said Arizona House Majority Whip Leo Biasiucci.

“I am hopeful that with all of the footage from that night, those involved in trying to break into the capitol will be charged with the same charges as those involved on Jan. 6 [2021 at the nation’s capitol].”

Biasiucci said that if law enforcement officials decline to act, the Senate will likely hold a hearing to determine who was involved in the violent protests.

“It is imperative that we move quickly on this investigation and turn over all evidence to law enforcement. This behavior will not stop unless those involved are exposed and prosecuted to the fullest,” he told The Epoch Times.

Security Barrier for High-Risk Situations

About four years ago, GOP state Senate President Karen Fann spearheaded an effort to deploy a permanent security barrier around Arizona’s Capitol complex for high-risk situations similar to what was later seen during the Black Lives Matter riots in 2020.

“That effort fell by the wayside,” said state Senate Republican caucus spokeswoman Kim Quintero.

Like other state lawmakers and the governor’s office, Fann plans to revisit the proposal in the coming months, Quintero said.

She said Fann received numerous requests from Senate members to launch an investigation into the “attempted insurrection” of June 24.

“There are a number of security cameras on the premises that captured a lot of footage that night, as well as cellphone videos,” Quintero told The Epoch Times.

“[Fann] will be reviewing all of that with law enforcement, the House, and the Governor’s Office in the coming weeks and months to see if there are any further prosecutorial actions that need to be taken to hold those accountable for violence and destruction.”

‘Lawless Riot’

State Sen. Wendy Rogers, another Republican, described the June 24 attempted break into the Senate building as a “lawless riot” by “anti-lifers.”

Department of Public Safety team members used tear gas to disperse the crowd.

“We were told on the floor to assemble. The Senate building was in danger of being breached,” Rogers told The Epoch Times. "We were told to remain calm and proceed to the tunnel to go over to the House. As we were doing that, the mood was very professional and calm.

“We eventually came back upstairs, and it was decided we would finish out the night in a Senate hearing room because the chamber had remnants of tear gas, which made it hard for some of us to do our business.”

Rogers said the video captured several protesters throwing their body weight against the far western door of the Senate building, causing damage.

“These anti-lifers [were] just threateningly trying to break in,” she said.

Rogers said the protestors may not have known that several state lawmakers carry concealed firearms.

“We carry at the Senate. We carry at the House. Members carry. It has been a historical precedent for years and years and years.

“These thugs need to know if they come after the 48th state of Arizona, they’re not getting very far. We’re not having it. This is not a scenario like what happened at the federal U.S. Capitol [on Jan. 6, 2021]. In Arizona, we will protect our capitol.”

In the meantime, Rogers said state Attorney General Mark Brnovich “needs to investigate” what some lawmakers call an insurrection.

“That needs to happen now. I would call it a violation of the rule of law. It was an angry crowd that tried to interrupt us doing the people’s business.”