Last Updated on October 16, 2022
In a video published Wednesday, Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs was confronted by a reporter at a fast food restaurant about her statement for her disdain for discussion of political policy and debates. Hobbs recently opted out of a debate with Republican challenger Kari Lake, instead opting for a one-on-one interview with PBS, which Hobbs had requested.
“Hey, Secretary Hobbs?” asked the reporter.
“Oh my god,” Hobbs replied.
Oh my…
Watch @katiehobbs hide in a bathroom to avoid answering questions
This is painful 🥴
— Kari Lake (@KariLake) October 12, 2022
“I just want to ask a brief question about a statement you made.-” he said politely.
“You have a great day,” Hobbs responded before the reporter could finish his sentence.
As Hobbs began to leave, she knocked over her drink and spilled her soda, which appeared to be Diet Coke, all over the veranda of the restaurant.
“Oh, you’ve spilled your soda,” the reporter observed.
“You have a great day,” the secretary of state replied.
“Are you going to clean that up or just leave that here for the business?” Project Veritas journalist R.C. Maxwell asked.
“You have a great day,” the secretary of state replied as she sloppily walked away from the litter she left behind.
“I just wanted to ask you about some comments you’ve made on undercover footage regarding having a disdain for discussing politics, ma’am,” Maxwell asked. “Do you recall that, Secretary Hobbs?”
“You kind of talked about how you don’t like to discuss policy, you don’t like to debate. Just wanted to know if that is informing your decision,” he inquired.
In a previously recorded video at a restaurant, Hobbs revealed her opinion on political discussion.
“I don’t want to talk to you. I don’t want to talk politics to anyone who I don’t know,” Hobbs said.
“You’ve been caught on camera discussing your disdain for policy,” the reporter replied.
Suddenly, Hobbs then proceeded to turn around, return to the burger joint, and lock herself in the ladies room.
“She’s going inside the restroom. She ran. Secretary Hobbs has ran. She doesn’t want to discuss policy with me,” the reporter said.
In another undercover video recorded of the opponent of Kari Lake, the incumbent secretary asserted she, in fact, wants to discuss policies.
“I would love nothing more than the opportunity to have a substantive conversation about the issues,” Hobbs said in an undercover recording.
The reporter then confronted her Chief Political Advisor, Joe Wolf.
“You’re her spokesperson. Do you want to talk about comments Miss Hobbs made on camera? Undercover camera. Mr. Wolf?” he asked. “Your candidate is currently hiding.”
“You don’t own this restaurant,” Wolf replied, wearing sunglasses and wireless Apple earpods.
“She’s currently hiding in that restroom. Do you want to talk to me about the statements your candidate has made on camera?” reporter Maxwell asked.
Even the cameraman chimed in.
“He’s the spokesman, isn’t he?” the video operator asked.
Have you talked about running from debate?” Maxwell asked in a follow-up.
He received no answer from spokesman Joe Wolf.
“They’re now both currently hiding in bathrooms. Mr. Wolf was here to save her, now he’s hiding in a bathroom,” the reported stated.
“Oh he’s out of the bathroom. Mr. Wolf is out of the bathroom,” he said as he updated the audience.
“Katie it’s me. We’re going to leave. There’s a car right here,” Wolf said after he knocked on the bathroom door behind which Hobbs hid. “We’re going to leave.”
The investigative reporter then asked the spokesman for Hobbs about the discrepancy between her stance on gun rights and the fact that she travels around with armed security.
“Considering your campaign drives around with an AR-15, is that an AR-15?” he asked.
“That is an AR-15,” Wolf replied.
“Don’t you think ‘rules for thee but not for me’ is problematic for someone running for state office?” the journalist asked.
In a previous encounter, an investigator asked Wolf about whether or not Hobbs would support infringement on 2nd Amendment rights.
“Would Katie support something like an assault weapons ban?” the undercover journalist asked.
“If she could, yeah. I mean, the problem is that’s a federal issue, right? There’s nothing she could do about it, at least immediately, right?” Wolf said. “Except kind of advocating for it publicly, which is really more impactful once you’re governor.”
As Hobbs finally attempted leave the restaurant, she tried to open the door of the car that awaited her, but was unsuccessful at first.
“The car is locked Ms. Hobbs,” the investigative reporter said.
“Secretary Hobbs, ladies and gentlemen, running from a Project Veritas Action reporter [and] doesn’t want to discuss policy.”
The story was first reported by Project Veritas.
