Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes is now reportedly investigating former President Donald Trump’s comments regarding former Rep. Liz Cheney as a possible “death threat” under state law. The inquiry, which centers on whether Trump’s remarks cross the legal threshold from political speech into intimidation or threat, comes as tensions continue to escalate in the political landscape, particularly in battleground states like Arizona.
The remarks in question occurred at a Trump rally in Glendale, Arizona, where Trump, referring to Cheney’s past support for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, said, “She’s a radical war hawk. Let’s put her with a rifle standing there, with nine barrels shooting at her, okay? Let’s see how she feels about it, you know, when the guns are trained on her face.” Liberals quickly pounced on his language, misinterpreting the comments as a call to violence against a political opponent.
Arizona’s AG Mayes, a Democrat, told NBC Phoenix’s Brahm Resnik that her office is scrutinizing Trump’s statements, especially in light of Arizona law, which criminalizes certain forms of intimidation and threats.
Mayes claimed that while it could be political speech, her office is assessing whether Trump’s statements crossed into illegal threats or intimidation, which could lead to misdemeanor or felony charges. She said that the investigation aligns with Arizona’s heightened security measures as law enforcement agencies work to ensure a safe voting environment amid a tense political climate in Maricopa County.
