Arizona Republicans Censure Dem for Hiding Bibles

Arizona Republicans on Tuesday voted to censure Democrat state Rep. Stephanie Stahl Hamilton for hiding Bibles in a House lounge, Fox reported.

Stahl Hamilton, an ordained minister, was caught on a security camera hiding Bibles as a "simple little prank." Some of the Bibles were found under couch cushions and one was found in the refrigerator, said Ethics Committee member Rep. Travis Grantham, R-Gilbert.

Stahl Hamilton described it as "playful protest," but three GOP members filed a complaint, saying she violated House rules and committed theft.

"It is just very disturbing and offensive to me that I may have been sitting on a Bible, and I just want to say if it had been a Quran and a Muslim member sitting upon that I would be able to empathize with them about how that would be the same amount of disturbing to them," said GOP Rep. Rachel Jones. "I believe many of the Christian members in here would be able to empathize with other members of different religions if that had occurred in this way."

Stahl Hamilton told USA Today it's "time to move on. I appreciate my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who voted against excessive punitive measures beyond the turmoil and attacks I've weathered the last seven weeks."

Rep. David Cook, a Republican, called an expulsion motion against Stahl Hamilton "overkill."

Rep. Nancy Gutierrez, a Democrat, said the "righteous indignation is misplaced. I've known her for many years. ... She has never failed to stand up for the people she represents."

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