Arizona lawmaker caught on camera moving and hiding Bibles in capitol

PHOENIX - An Arizona Democratic lawmaker was caught on camera swiping and hiding Bibles at the state capitol building.

Capitol security cameras caught representative and ordained minister Stephanie Stahl Hamilton swiping two Bibles from the House's members-only lounge on April 10.

Cameras were placed in the lounge after the Bibles were reported missing.

Arizona lawmaker Stephanie Stahl Hamilton

Hamilton apologized and responded to the video calling it a "little playful commentary" for separation of church and state, but Republican leadership isn't laughing.

"It's bizarre and juvenile for an elected public official, an ordained minister nonetheless, to act in this manner. Such actions are disrespectful to the Bible and people of faith, and to the institution of the House and its members," says Andrew Wilder, House Majority Caucus spokesperson.

The Bibles, which Republican leaders say have been inside the House members' lounge for years first went missing on March 23, and then again less than a week later.

Cameras were installed after they were then found stuffed in couch seat cushions and inside a refrigerator.

"The intent was never to be destructive, to never desecrate, to never offend," Stahl Hamilton said during an apology on the House floor April 26. "I hold scripture very dear to my heart, it is what guides me, it is what shapes and informs the decisions I made."

Instead, claiming her actions were intended a kind of political commentary.

"I acknowledge that a conversation about the separation between church and state should have began with a conversation, and for that, I apologize," she said. "I recognize that my actions could have been seen as something less than playful, and offensive and for those of you who I deeply offended, I apologize, that was never the intent."

House Republican Speaker Pro Tempore Travis Grantham says he’s grateful for the apology, but feels she could have been handled better.

"I was disappointed. My first reaction was, I had a little bit of a gut check and felt kind of bad for the institution," he said. "If they don’t like a picture hanging on the wall, they can complain. If somebody doesn’t like having a Bible in the room, they can complain. It was never brought up."