Note: Gillette is the chair of House Federalism, Military Affairs and Elections
From AZFamily, written by Alexis Dominguez -
Arizona lawmaker’s remarks on ASU COVID-19 link spark outrage
A legislative hearing on foreign funding and national security took a controversial turn when a lawmaker questioned whether Arizona State University may have indirectly funded COVID-19.
During a House Federalism, Military Affairs and Elections Committee hearing, Republican Rep. John Gillette asked, “Just saying, did we fund a portion of COVID through ASU?”
[snip]
Gillette did not provide evidence linking ASU to the creation or funding of COVID-19 and neither did the witness who spoke about bioweapons, China and research.
Gillette is someone with a checkered (read: hate filled) history.
From News from the States, written by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy, dated 1/21/2026 -
Republican who called Muslims ‘f***ing savages’ wants an advocacy group declared a terrorist outfit
A Republican state lawmaker who had faced criticism for calling Muslims “f***ing savages” and making a series of other Islamophobic comments pushed forward his legislation urging Congress to designate the country’s largest Muslim advocacy group a terrorist organization.
The measure from Rep. John Gillette, R-Kingman, will have no practical effect. But if it passes, it would be a statement of the legislature’s beliefs. House Concurrent Memorial 2002 urges the president and Congress to designate the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, as a terrorist organization and pass a bill in Congress that seeks to do the same.
More on HCM2002 is here, from KJZZ.
HCM2002's status is here. Short version: Passed in the House and sent to the Senate for approval.
Gillette represents LD30, which covers western Maricopa County and most of western Arizona -
