POLITICS- Scott Kissee, a disabled Army veteran, was fired from the Republican Party of Arizona (AZGOP) for having an exchange with AZ Sen. Wendy Rogers on a radio station. The exchange stemmed from Sen. Rogers’ abhorrent defense of Steve Slaton’s military claims.
On July 8, Scott Kissee appeared on Rim Country Radio (KMOG) with Gary Morris, the Chairman of the Gila County Republican Party. The radio block was set for the Gila County Republican Committee to speak about election issues.
While Kissee was on the radio show, Sen. Rogers called into the show and defended Steve Slaton’s accused stolen valor, and disparaged how veteran organizations obtained Slaton’s military records (DD214). Sen. Rogers explained that Steve Slaton obtained his military records, and he has provided them. She continued to say, “During a political campaign, it’s absolutely reprehensible for one veteran to go after another when records are being doctored.”
The newly obtained military records that Sen. Rogers mentions have not been presented to the voters for clarity.
Sen. Rogers said, “I will stand with Steve Slaton and put my reputation on the line.”
Kissee replied, “That’s good, because you are, ma’am.”
Morris replied, “Do your own vetting, don’t necessarily look at a website, talk to all candidates before you make your decision.”
Clip from the July 8 KMOG radio show with Scott Kissee, Ken Murphy, AZ Sen. Wendy Rogers, and Gila County Chairperson Gary Morris. This exchange fueled Kissee’s termination from the AZGOP.
After the radio show, on July 9, Kissee said he received a termination letter from the Republican Party of Arizona (AZGOP). The termination letter came from Kris Morrisey, Executive Director of the Republican Party of Arizona.
The Mountain Daily Star received Kissee’s termination letter. The letter hinted that his position as the Regional Election Integrity Director was terminated for violating a non-disparagement agreement.
The Republican National Committee AZ Communications Director Halee Dobbins said, “The firing of Kissee was a decision made by the Arizona GOP, not the Trump campaign.”
The Executive Director of the Republican Party of Arizona (AZGOP) responded to Mountain Daily Star via email.
“AZGOP staff are at-will employees and can be terminated at any point. The decision to terminate was an internal matter and not one we are able to discuss. The AZGOP remains focused on returning President Donald J. Trump to the Oval Office and electing Republicans to fix the mess left by Joe Biden and his band of incompetents,” said Kris Morrisey, Executive Director of the AZGOP.
The Mountain Daily Star received the Republican Party of Arizona’s NDA and the section referring to the non-disparagement clause is number 9.
Kissee said he agreed to the non-disparagement agreement, and in that agreement, it clearly states that its forbidden to be disparaging to the AZGOP or employees of the AZGOP.
The Republican National Committees (RNC) AZ Communications spokesperson said, “Speaking for the AZGOP, they made the decision to fire Mr. Kissee due to the altercation with a sitting State Senator, which goes against the state party’s policies for employees. Kissee was authorized to speak to the media on the specific radio show on matters associated with his election integrity program director role.
A confidential source told Mountain Daily Star that the termination of Kissee was a combined effort between Sen. Rogers and the AZGOP.
“They made him a ‘poster boy’ for the silence and obedience that Sen. Rogers demands in her present political reign,” she said.
In December 2023, Sen. Rogers warned candidate Ari Bradshaw, “You are really playing with fire here.” The recorded call related to Bradshaw’s concern about Sen. Rogers’ running mate, Slaton, calling Rep. Dave Marshall, a Black Republican, the N-word.
The recorded call occurred in December 2023 between Sen. Rogers and LD2 State House Candidate Ari Bradshaw. The call was obtained by the Mountain Daily Star.
Sen. Rogers appeared on the July 11 KMOG radio show and a caller asked Sen. Rogers if she was an employee of the AZGOP and she replied, “No.”
It’s important to note the U.S. Supreme Court case New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254 (1964). The case related to an ad that the New York Times published, which called for funds to support the student movement, voting rights, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legal defense.
The opinion in New York Times Co. v. Sullivan was written by Justice William Brennan and it states, “Against the background of a profound national commitment to the principle that debate on public issues should be uninhibited, robust, and wide-open, and that it may well include vehement, caustic, and sometimes unpleasantly sharp attacks on government and public officials.”
The court’s decision is considered to have protected the press, allowed it to challenge official truth, and held public officials accountable to their constituents. Some say it also arguably saved the civil rights movement.
It’s clear that Sen. Rogers is not the AZGOP or an employee of the AZGOP and is entitled to sharp debates from the press and her constituents. If she means to silence or rule “We the People,” she does not deserve to represent the people of Legislative District 7.
As citizens, we have the power to shape our political landscape. Let’s engage in robust debates and hold our elected officials accountable. Remember, it’s our right and our duty as Americans. And don’t forget to exercise your right to vote before July 30.