Kari Lake Blasts 'Media Bias' Over Nashville 'Transphobes' Gun Post

Kari Lake accused Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs' press secretary Josselyn Berry of having "made light of a mass shooting" and "called for more violence," after she posted a photograph of a woman with two guns, which she said were aimed at "transphobes," hours after a deadly school shooting on Monday. She also accused the media of bias over its alleged silence over the post.

In a statement sent to Newsweek, Hobbs' office later confirmed the governor had "received and accepted" Berry's resignation, adding: "The Governor does not condone violence in any form."

Audrey Hale, a 28-year-old who police say identified as transgender, opened fire at the Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, shortly after 10 a.m. on Monday. Six people were killed, including three children, before Hale was shot dead by police. Body camera footage of the incident has been released by the Metro Nashville Police Department.

The shooting sparked a fierce debate, with senior Democrats calling for more gun control, while a number of prominent conservatives suggested, without providing any evidence, that the attack could have been linked to Hale receiving gender affirming medical treatment.

Just hours after the shooting Berry, Hobbs' press secretary, posted a photo of a woman aiming two guns on Twitter, adding: "Us when we see transphobes."

The post sparked fury with Arizona Republicans accusing Berry of threatening violence, and calling for her to be sacked.

Lake, who unsuccessfully ran against Hobbs in November's gubernatorial election for the GOP, shared a screenshot of Berry's post on Twitter.

She added: "If a conservative made light of a mass shooting & called for more violence, they'd be personally & professionally destroyed.

"But a member of Katie Hobbs' staff did just that & the media is silent.

"We don't partake in cancel culture—but the media's bias has never been clearer."

Local media outlet Arizona Central reported that the conservative Arizona Freedom Caucus was calling for Berry's dismissal, with Senator Jake Hoffman, the group's leader, accusing Berry of "threatening to shoot people Democrats disagree with less than 12 hours after the Nashville shooting."

Berry has set her Twitter account to private, meaning only people who already followed her can see it.

Hobbs' office later released a statement stating: "The Governor does not condone violence in any form. This administration holds mutual respect at the forefront of how we engage with one another. The post by the Press Secretary is not reflective of the values of the administration. The Governor has received and accepted the resignation of the Press Secretary."

In November Hobbs defeated Lake at the ballot box to become governor of Arizona, winning by around 17,000 votes.

However, Lake has refused to accept defeat and has repeatedly claimed the election was rigged.

These allegations were rejected by a court in Maricopa County, along with the Arizona Court of Appeals, though Lake is appealing to the state's Supreme Court.

Lake has emerged as a favorite to become Trump's running mate in 2024, when the former president bids to take back the White House.

Trump is continuing to insist the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him, though this has been repeatedly rejected by independent polling and legal experts.

Update 3/30/23, 3:22 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with a statement from Governor Hobbs' office about Berry's resignation.