PRESS RELEASE: Gutierrez, House Democrats Stand with Senator Ortiz Amid Death Threats and Bogus Calls for Investigation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    

August 11, 2025

PHOENIX – House Assistant Democratic Leader Nancy Gutierrez released the following statement in support of Senator Analise Ortiz, who is being targeted and attacked online for posting on Instagram about immigration enforcement happening in her district. While legal experts agree that sharing publicly available information about law enforcement activity is protected free speech, Senator Ortiz is weathering death threats and calls for her prosecution.

"As we have stated, Senator Analise Ortiz was well within her 1st Amendment rights and has done nothing wrong or illegal. The coordinated online attacks, and the targeting of her for investigation and prosecution by Senate Republican Leadership and other elected officials, is an authoritarian intimidation tactic to silence opposition. This online pile-on and irresponsible targeting of an elected official by other elected officials is having the intended effect. The amount of unhinged and threatening commentary aimed at Senator Ortiz, or anyone who speaks up in her defense, over this absolute nothingburger is downright putrid and dangerous.

We all know where this kind of rhetoric leads. Just two months ago, the nation witnessed the targeted political assassination of Minnesota Democratic Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, and the attempted assassination of Minnesota Democratic Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman. The radicalized murderer now in custody had a kill list with 45 names on it, including dozens of Democratic elected officials.

We will continue to stand with Senator Ortiz, with the rule of law and against violent rhetoric and intimidation of elected leaders."

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