Russell Pearce

Arizona Immigration Law Sponsor Russell Pearce Defends Past Friendship With Neo-Nazi Gunman

Nick R. Martin | May 3, 2012, 12:50PM

Former Arizona state Senate President Russell Pearce (R) speaks outside the U.S. Supreme Court on April 25, 2012.

As Russell Pearce's power in Arizona politics grew over the years, so too did questions about his past friendship with a man who went on to become the most vocal neo Nazi in the state.

So when that neo Nazi reportedly massacred four people in a suburban Phoenix home before turning the gun on himself on Wednesday, reporters naturally turned to the former state Senate president and primary sponsor of Arizona's tough immigration law to comment on the killings.

Read more »

Fiesta Bowl

Arizona Politicians Cleared In Fiesta Bowl Scandal By Republican Prosecutor

Nick R. Martin | December 21, 2011, 2:15PM

Former Arizona State Senate President Russell Pearce (R)

A Republican prosecutor has cleared more than 30 Arizona politicians and three lobbyists of criminal wrongdoing in the Fiesta Bowl scandal, saying the state's laws just weren't tough enough for him to press charges.

Read more »

Russell Pearce

Group That Recalled Russell Pearce Targets Jan Brewer, Joe Arpaio

Jillian Rayfield | November 22, 2011, 1:35PM

Gov. Jan Brewer (R-AZ)

The group behind the successful recall of Arizona Senate President Russell Pearce is now targeting infamous Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer.

Read more »

Russell Pearce

Opponents Of Russell Pearce Say Recall A 'Cautionary Tale' For Anti-Immigration Politicians

Jillian Rayfield | November 9, 2011, 12:59PM

Former Arizona State Senate President Russell Pearce (R)

Supporters of a successful effort to recall Arizona Senate President Russell Pearce (R) say the results of the election are "a cautionary tale for right-wing extremists" like Pearce who try to "demonize" illegal immigrants.

Read more »

Russell Pearce

Judge: Backers Of The State Senate President Ran Sham Candidate In AZ Recall

Jillian Rayfield | October 10, 2011, 3:28PM

State Senator Russell Pearce (R-AZ)

A judge in Maricopa County, AZ, found that there is evidence that state Senate candidate Olivia Cortes is a sham candidate in the election to recall Senate president Russell Pearce.

Read more »

Russell Pearce

Russell Pearce Supporters Accused Of Running Sham Candidate In AZ Recall Election

Jillian Rayfield | September 27, 2011, 6:03AM

State Senator Russell Pearce (R-AZ)

Russell Pearce, the Arizona Senate president who authored the state's controversial immigration law and is facing a recall election, is also facing a lawsuit that alleges his supporters have helped run a sham candidate in the election to dilute the vote and help his chances to stay in office.

Read more »

Russell Pearce

Judge OKs Recall Election Against Author Of AZ Immigration Law

Jillian Rayfield | August 15, 2011, 9:43AM

State Senator Russell Pearce (R-AZ)

An Arizona judge has given the go-ahead for a recall election of state Sen. Russell Pearce (R), who authored the state's controversial immigration law.

Read more »

Russell Pearce

Author Of Arizona's Immigration Law Will Face Recall Election

Jillian Rayfield | July 11, 2011, 11:09AM

State Senator Russell Pearce (R-AZ)

State election officials say that the groups working to recall Arizona's state Senate President Russell Pearce (R), the man behind the state's controversial immigration law, have successfully collected enough signatures to force an election.

Read more »

Citizens For A Better Arizona

Arizonans File To Recall Author Of Controversial Immigration Law

Jillian Rayfield | June 1, 2011, 10:22AM

State Senator Russell Pearce (R-AZ)

A group of Arizonans filed a petition Tuesday to recall the state's Senate President Russell Pearce (R), who authored the state's controversial immigration law and has also dabbled in tentherism and birtherism.

Read more »

Arizona

Arizona Senate Passes Bill To Let State Nullify Federal Laws

Jillian Rayfield | March 4, 2011, 10:18AM

State Senator Russell Pearce (R-AZ)

After being shot down earlier this week, the Arizona State Senate revived and successfully passed a bill that would create a mechanism for the state to nullify federal laws.

As TPM has reported, Senate Bill 1433 would create a 12-person "Joint Legislative Committee on Nullification of Federal Laws," which would "recommend, propose and call for a vote by simple majority to nullify in its entirety a specific federal law or regulation that is outside the scope of the powers delegated by the People to the federal government in the United States Constitution."

Read more »

Arizona

Arizona Bill Would Let State Nullify Federal Laws At Will

Eric Lach | February 4, 2011, 10:26AM

State Senator Russell Pearce (R-AZ)

Republican lawmakers in Arizona -- including State Senate President Russell Pearce (R), who sponsored the state's controversial immigration law -- have introduced a bill that sets up a way for the state to ignore federal laws it doesn't like.

Read more »