Phoenix police have made an arrest in connection with a burglary at the campaign headquarters for Katie Hobbs, the Democratic nominee for governor.
Police did not release the person’s name or say whether they believe the crime was politically motivated. Sgt. Phil Krynsky said more information would be released later Thursday.
“Earlier this week, a break-in occurred at our campaign headquarters,” Nicole DeMont, Hobbs’s campaign manager, wrote in a statement. “We continue to cooperate with law enforcement as they investigate, and we are thankful to the men and women of the Phoenix Police Department for their work to keep us safe.”
Phoenix Police Sgt. Phil Krynsky said investigators believe the reported burglary happened in the early morning hours of Oct. 25 at Hobbs’s office in downtown Phoenix.
“This is still an active investigation with detectives checking all security cameras in attempts to identify and locate the subject involved,” Krynsky said, adding that some items were taken from Hobbs’s office. He didn’t elaborate on what was taken.
On Wednesday, the Arizona Democratic Party, without any supporting evidence, accused Kari Lake of being “a direct result” of the burglary, claiming the incident was fueled by “Republicans spreading lies and hate.”
“Make no mistake—this is a direct result of Kari Lake and fringe Republicans spreading lies and hate and inciting violence—and it is despicable,” the Democratic Party affiliate said in a statement on Twitter.
DeMont, meanwhile, while not directly pointing fingers at Lake for the break-in, used the incident to accuse the GOP gubernatorial candidate and her supporters of “spreading dangerous misinformation.”
“Let’s be clear: for nearly two years Kari Lake and her allies have been spreading dangerous misinformation and inciting threats against anyone they see fit,” Hobb’s campaign manager claimed. “The threats against Arizonans attempting to exercise their constitutional rights and their attacks on elected officials are the direct result of a concerted campaign of lies and intimidation.”
Lake, a former television anchor, is the GOP nominee for governor in a heated and close gubernatorial race against Hobbs, who is currently Arizona’s secretary of state. Arizona’s current governor is Republican Doug Ducey, who is prevented by term limits from running again.
Representatives for Lake did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the accusations.
DeMont also said Hobbs and some of her staff members have faced “hundreds of death threats and threats of violence” during the 2022 midterm elections campaign.
“It won’t work,” Hobbs’s campaign manager said. “Katie is running for governor to ensure the safety and security of every Arizona family.”
The burglary is not the first criminal act targeting Hobbs. Less than a month ago, authorities arrested and charged Mark Rissi, 64, of Iowa, for threatening Hobbs and the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.
Earlier this year, the FBI arrested James W. Clark, 38, from Massachusetts, who had threatened to blow up the Arizona secretary of state’s “personal space” if she refused to resign.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
