Ethics Complaint Alleges GOP Senator Wendy Rogers Verbally Abused Staffer
A former legislative assistant to Republican Wendy Rogers filed complaints against the newly-elected state senator, alleging she verbally abused him before he was forced out of the job.
The Arizona Capitol Times first reported Michael Polloni filed an ethics complaint on Jan. 21, less than two weeks after Rogers was sworn into office.
He alleges that Rogers made derogatory comments about his weight and appearance, his sister’s sexual orientation, his family’s political beliefs and his own religious beliefs.
Rogers also asked Polloni repeatedly to work on her campaign while in the state Senate, a violation of Arizona law, and harassed Polloni while he was on medical leave for COVID-19, according to a copy of the complaint.
The document states Polloni also plans to file an Equal Employment Opportunity Complaint with the state Senate, alleging Rogers created a hostile work environment.
Rogers did not respond to a request for comment.
Sen. Sine Kerr, chair of the Senate Ethics Committee, confirmed she received the complaint on Jan. 21. The Buckeye Republican wrote in an email that committee rules given Rogers until Monday, Feb. 1, to respond to the allegations.
“I will let that process conclude before recommending any action that should be taken on the complaint,” Kerr wrote.
Polloni alleges that he was fired on Jan. 14, the day he returned to work from COVID-19.
That day, Polloni alleges Rogers objected to several personal items he had displayed at his workstation, including a statute of St. Michael, and confronted Rogers about “being talked down upon” and “disrespected.”
Polloni alleges that Rogers told him, “tough shit,” and proceeded to yell in his face.
“We’re at war Mikey, do you not understand that?” she said, according to the complaint. “You do not understand half of what I know.”
“You work for me. What do you not understand about that,” she later added.
Polloni wrote he responded that he worked for the state of Arizona, adding that the comment “might not have been the smartest move.” Polloni wrote he was fired by the Senate comptroller later that afternoon and was not told why he was being let go.
