UPDATE: Following a one-sided report by FOX News, it is important to note their story ignored that the LD14 Chairman is required to de-escalate any issues with members and follow certain procedures prior to removing a member from the hall. Further, Adams violated their own bylaws:
Subsection 5. Disciplinary Action 1. Any disciplinary action imposed by the District requires a 2/3 vote of the PCs present in person or by proxy and voting.
DECORUM – Roberts Rules of Order 12th Edition: #61:15 The case may be sufficiently resolved by an apology or a withdrawal of objectionable statements or remarks by the offender; #61:11 Calling a member to order. “-as when a member repeatedly questions the motives of other members whom he mentions by name…” “-the chair normally should first warn the member; but with or without such a warning, the chair or any other member can “call the member to order.”, #61:12 Naming an offender REMOVAL FROM THE HALL #61:13 Although the chair has no authority to impose a penalty or to order the offending member removed from the hall, the assembly has that power. #61:16 The offending member can be required to leave the hall during the consideration of his penalty, but he must be allowed to present his defense briefly first. A motion to require the member’s departure during consideration of the penalty- which may be assumed by the chair if he things it appropriate- is undebatable, is unamendable, and requires a majority vote.
Adams did not follow any of the rules or procedures, did not call for a vote for removal, and instead of de-escalating the situation, inflamed and escalated it directly causing the situation caught on tape.
On Monday, July 15, 2024, the Legislative District 14 Chair Andrew Adams was involved in an incident outside the LD14 Meeting. See the below security video which clearly shows Adams in the white/silver shirt and jeans, pointing in the face of several people and acting as the LARGEST and most aggressive physical presence. The alleged attacker in the black shirt is significantly shorter than Adams and has to stand up on tiptoes to even near eye level. After the incident, Adams aggressively pursues him and others. Is this the behavior of an assault victim? Adams has a history of attempting to physically intimidate people in dark alleys, and a pattern of intimidating women, while aggressively censoring any free speech or criticism, and a dark past as a convicted drug dealer.
Adams claims he was assaulted and improperly plays the victim while comparing himself to the Donald Trump assassination saying in a statement:
“Lalani Hunsaker’s Nathan, stood on his tiptoes, said “F you” to me, and then headbutted me. His friend recorded the incident, and the police have been notified. With the attempted assassination of President Trump, the notion that someone identifying as a Republican would resort to violence at our meeting must be condemned in the strongest terms. My daughter was present at the meeting tonight.”
Lalani Hunsaker responded saying:
“This is a complete misrepresentation of the events of this evening. Laurin Hendrix mentioned my son during his “legislative update.” I stood up and asked him to stop. As a mother; I had every right to stand up and defend my child against the slanderous and defamatory accusations alleged by Laurin Hendrix. Unfortunately rather than stopping Laurin; Andrew Adams began yelling at me to sit down. My brother in law who had been invited to the meeting by another PC came to my and my son’s defense by standing up and telling Laurin to stop. It is neglect by Andrew Adams as the Chair of LD14 to allow a political hit against another Republican during an LD meeting. It is gross negligence on the part of the Chair, as he was completely inept at keeping order during the meeting. This political character assault likely was orchestrated and colluded by Andrew Adams and Laurin Hendrix. And is continuing in this fabricated post. Furthermore, my husband did not head but Andrew Adams. That is physically impossible. Andrew was yelling in Nate’s face and Andrew is 6 inches taller than my husband. Nate went on his tiptoes to look Andrew in the eye when Andrew was screaming at him. Nate never said F you. The whole incident is recorded. And video was viewed by the police. No arrests were made and no official report was filled. Finally, I was never given the opportunity to refute the heinous claims that Laurin Hendrix perpetrated and I remained in the meeting until it concluded in hopes of having that opportunity. The ineptitude exhibited tonight at the LD meeting was ridiculous and the fact that Andrew Adams allowed this to happen is reprehensible.”
Adams claims a report was filed and he will be obtaining a restraining order and have banned multiple people from the meeting. This is despite Andrew Adams criticizing a restraining order against his good friend Dan Farley who assaulted a County Member at Large on security camera, striking him in the chest. Unlike with Adams who was acting aggressively, the victim of the below video in the red shirt had his hands behind his back calmly speaking before being struck by Adams friend Farley. Adams referred to the victim of that assault as “not being a man” and falsely accusing the victim of “setting Dan up” see the below video:
Representative David Cook got in on playing victim and spreading false information as well saying in a public post on X that allowed no comments: “This morning I have been informed that Laurin Hendrix AZ State House Representative was almost assaulted (this is curious, what exactly is an “almost assault”?) at a local district meeting in Gilbert last night while speaking to his constituents. The police were called, the chairman of the group intervened and was assaulted. Evidence was seized by the local police. It should be clear after the incident involving President Trump and the victims this past week that in no cases should violence be tolerated regarding political events of any kind.” Cook should be condemning Adams. It is outrageous to compare the events in the Adams video above to an attempted assassination attempt where one audience member was killed and others injured including Donald Trump who was shot in the ear and had he not turned his head would have been killed by a bullet passing through his brain. Cook and Adams should be ashamed and both resign.
