When reached Tuesday, a spokesman declined to comment. Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu who became the face of Arizona border security nationally after he started stridently opposing illegal immigration threatened his Mexican ex-lover with. ", (After this story was published online February 17, Babeu and DeRose denied Orozco and his lawyer's threat-of-deportation allegations, and under pressure the sheriff came out as a gay man and admitted that he'd had an affair with Orozco. Babeu was born on February 3, 1969, in North Adams, Massachusetts, to Raymond and Helen Babeu. He has also. Orozco: "Dont threat me. and last updated 5:01 AM, Mar 30, 2016. PAUL BABEU: We were notified just recently that he had to make a decision today either to resign from chief deputy, to run, or to pull out of the race, today. Protect America Nows 69 member sheriffs, who come from states including California, New Mexico, Virginia and South Dakota, also appear on right-leaning media to advocate for smaller government in all areas except immigration. Melissa Weiss-Riner, Orozco's attorney, confirms her client's account. Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu's campaign launched a counterattack late Monday on a key source for a story broadcast Sunday by a Phoenix TV station. Brandon Bell/Getty Images. He has called vaccine mandates garbage and spoke at a recent anti-vaccine rally in Phoenix, where he told supporters, Were going to find out what kind of patriots you are. But on Nov. 12, he appeared on One American News Network and said the enthusiasm he saw for Trump in Arizona does not compute with the election results. If hes re-elected as sheriff, Babeu says he plans to continue to battle drug trafficking in the county. It could be his demeanor, at once confident and aw-shucks. Today its closer to 100, and a faint whisp of cloud floats in the sky, daring itself to cover the blazing sun. RICO refers to anti-racketeering laws that give authorities wide latitude to seize assets in criminal cases even if charges are not filed and then fund operations with the proceeds. He opposes all limitations on the Second Amendment. Arizona Sheriff Paul Babeu drops bid for Congress after fallout from I love America. Since taking office in 2017, Lamb has become the face of a new online streaming service called the American Sheriff Network and of a nonprofit coalition of sheriffs called Protect America Now; he also founded a charity, the American Sheriff Foundation. The district's incumbent representative, Democrat Ann Kirkpatrick, did not seek re-election as she instead ran for the U.S. And I will serve the people where I can.. Thank you for your inquiry, as you know we cannot confirm or deny the existence of investigations, said FBI Special Agent Matthew Reinsmoen. Im already hurt me . The groups website lists seven additional sheriffs at least five of whom have been accused of some form of misconduct as advisory committee members. Paul Babeu, Outed GOP Candidate, On Same-Sex Marriage: 'You Can't Wont work. The sheriff denies funding was a problem, saying he raised more money in his 4th District congressional bid than either of his opponents. There were middle-aged women with salon-styled hair hoping to take their picture with him. In addition, in 77 of the 82 awards reviewed, the county could not provide a memorandum of understanding showing how the money would be used by the group receiving the award. Now in his second term, Shaun Babeu will be up for re-election in 2018. Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu announces run for Congress Out of five Pinal County supervisors, only one, Serdy, a Republican, would comment on the record about Lamb, telling me over the phone, As long as the job is being done, then we support [his other work]. Lamb argues his outside activities help him bring in new recruits. Forfeiture money paid for Voyles' personal security system, retirement contributions of employees in his office and fundraising for the Sheriff's Office, according to the lawsuit. See also: Babeu Sticks It to Taxpayers and a Volunteer Rescue Team. (Asked about the report, Mack said CSPOA denounce[s] all racism and violence.), Mack said Lamb is not an official CSPOA member, but he clearly sees Lamb as one of his own. January 8, 2013 There was the waitress who told Lamb he needed to gain weight. "He wanted his legal rights protected. It could be the Justin cowboy hat he wears pulled low over his eyes and his penchant for Western shirts and a tactical vest in lieu of a uniform. Phoenix's independent source of [28] He was re-elected by a large margin on November 6, 2012. Babeu and Voyles this month demanded an apology from Volkmer, saying he unfairly maligned them and subjected them to disparaging statements over the use of RICO funds. The sheriff didn't dispute the authenticity of any text messages or photos appearing with this article.). The audit said those expenditures effectively bypassed the county's purchasing procedures, which require various levels of approval. KJZZ is a service of Rio Salado College, and Maricopa Community Colleges A three-member committee made up of a detention officer, a sheriff's sergeant and a civilian review all requests for RICO funds. The sheriff at the time, Paul Babeu, had faced a series of scandals, including an affair with a man who alleged Babeu had threatened to deport him if he exposed their relationship. He said none of the audits found problems. A Fitting Finish to Paul Babeu's No Good, Very Bad Year Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu on gay marriage: "You can't legislate "At a minimum, it seems that by funneling money to a private group which buys things for him and his department Babeu is able to avoid procurement laws and other transparency regulations which usually apply to government purchasing," the lawsuit stated. Descended from a long line of Mormons and still an unabashed member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he grew up all over the world, he is fond of saying, including the Philippines, Panama and Argentina, where he did his Mormon mission. independent local journalism in Phoenix. Paul Babeu, Pinal County Sheriff, Lambasted by Newly-Retired PCSO Lamb, 49, has jurisdiction over only Arizona's third most populous county, a stretch of desert. All but a fraction of the foundation's money came from Pinal County's RICO fund, and the money was used to buy items such as automatic weapons for deputies, supplies, police dogs, horses and feed, according to the lawsuit. Requests are often limited to reimbursements and often require proof of expenses. [16] Babeu led the third largest sheriff's office in Arizona with 700 full-time employees. Grand jury investigates Paul Babeu's use of RICO funds as Pinal County We dont go to a shooting range as much as an open, sandy field that Lamb says belongs to a friend of his. To date, the movements largest formal organization is the Constitutional Sheriffs and Police Officers Association, formed in 2011 by former sheriff Richard Mack, who told me the association has attracted more than 700 sheriffs to its events and trainings. Stephen is a former staff writer and columnist at, Become a member to support the independent voice of Phoenix We'll be in touch if we look into your question. Solve this simple math problem and enter the result. They exchanged more texts on September 6. Sproul, who has a long history in GOP political consulting, was accused of voter fraud between 2004 and 2012, allegations he denied and for which he was not charged. Arizona police seized $200 million in personal property, but where did the money go? A September 4, 2011, text from the sheriff reads: "You can never have business after this and you will harm me and many others in the process. Both could face federal criminal charges. The lawsuit claimed the county agencies were misusing RICO funds and funneling money through the Arizona Public Safety Foundation. The 34-year-old from central Mexico charges that the sheriff's lawyer warned against mentioning the affair with Babeu. Karns tells Babeu that his proposal ensures that if command staff doesn't "bow and accede" to his "every wish and desire, they face termination." and help keep the future of New Times, Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our. [11][12], Babeu joined the Massachusetts National Guard as a 21-year-old. Lavigne. If Fox calls, what are they going to do for me? But it didnt take long for him to begin leaning into national issues. He lost in the general election to Democrat Andrea F. Nuciforo, Jr. State auditors found Babeu and Voyles failed to follow procedures and spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on unauthorized purchases. They just happen to support President Trump a lot. "But that didn't rise to the level of criminal activity.". Explaining their use of RICO funds, Gaffney also said, Any request for RICO Funding by our office as you are aware has to be submitted in writing to either the County Attorneys Office if it is State RICO Funds.. Lamb won office the same year Sheriff Arpaio was defeated in Maricopa. Babeu heads a department of 700 and has worked to cut the budget, reorganize leadership, and reduce the response time from his department. Your contact infoWe'll be in touch if we look into your question. | Doug Barrett for POLITICO. The amount was the largest to any single group over the three years, the audit said. | Lamb, too, is on the advisory committee, but hes also the groups most prominent public representative. A spokesperson for the NSA told me that, while the code of ethics is the basis of an organizational creed, sheriffs generally rely on their state laws for legal guidance. Voyles maintained that he implemented proper controls to ensure RICO funds were not misspent and pointed to audits conducted by the county, the Arizona Attorney Generals Office and the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission. While it is unclear what transpired between Karns and Babeu or other high-level PCSO staff, Karns -- who says he was planning to retire in April -- hints at lawsuit against the Sheriff's Office. Babeu pulled out of the 2012 race in the middle of the debacle and set his sights lower, vying for - and winning - re-election as sheriff. . February 16, 2012 In public, Lamb commands attention. Two weeks before, in mid-June, the temperature was a newsworthy 110-plus degrees. Lamb, 49, has jurisdiction over only Arizonas third most populous county, a stretch of desert wedged between Phoenix and Tucson thats home to about 500,000 people. Paul Babeu - Wikipedia Sheriff Paul Babeu: Arizona border hawk, rising conservative star (A federal judge later found Arpaio in criminal contempt of a court order to stop racially profiling Latino residents, but Trump later pardoned him.) (State records show, and Vale confirmed, that Lambs 2020 campaign provided a $10,000 loan to the group in August of last year.) Another patron of the diner walked by. Doug Barrett for POLITICO. Ive never had a desire to run for Senate or Congress, Lamb told me at the caf in Florence, before adding, Im a patriot at heart. DENNIS LAMBERT: The sheriff says he's running for re-election to continue the programs he began four years ago, and because of problems with the candidacy of the man he wanted to replace him, his Chief Deputy Steve Henry. Lamb, who was elected in 2017, said money stopped flowing to theArizona Public Safety Foundation, which recently ceased operation. Questions about the foundation also were raised in a 2015 federal lawsuit by attorneys from Perkins Coie and the American Civil Liberties Union. He was defeated in the general election by Democrat Tom O'Halleran. The article also has been updated to remove information about the immigration status of the man who made the allegations. Contact. Florence is the county seat. Lamb fires his service pistol, a Glock 34. In his book, he describes spending much of his childhood in Hawaii, where, he told me, I was a minority., Lamb, an ardent defender of the Second Amendment, practices at a shooting range in Pinal County, Ariz. Unless like today. Lamb is a frequent talking head on Fox News and Newsmax, where he derides President Joe Bidens and Vice President Kamala Harris handling of immigration, and he has spoken at political events like a Turning Point Action summit a few months ago in Phoenix, where he quoted Shakespeare and Thomas Paine (Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered) and promised, The sheriffs are going to hold the line., Sheriff Mark Lamb has jurisdiction over Pinal County, a stretch of desert wedged between Phoenix and Tucson thats home to about 500,000 people. Lamb chalked that up to an accountants error. RICO seizures and spending by the Pinal County Sheriffs Office and County Attorneys office have been heavily criticized by several watchdog groups during the past year. [23] He ran against one-term Representative Paul Gosar, who had been elected to the state's 1st congressional district in 2010. He wears Wranglers, worn cowboy boots, a black shirt with rolled sleeves, a fully loaded tactical vest and a brown leather belt with Sheriff Lamb embossed across the back. Court records show that problems at the school arose years before Babeu took over as headmaster. I dont think that Black Lives Matter is productive for the Blacks, Lamb also told me. Gaffney points to Karns' past support of Babeu, including a letter he wrote recommending Babeu for the National Sheriff of the Year Award, and an e-mail commending Babeu for his leadership and stance on arming school administrators in response to the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre. Orozco shared text messages between him and Babeu with New Times. He also argues the mob that overtook the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 was more heavily policed than the Black Lives Matter movement. Lamb was a fixture on the show, as well as a host of a spinoff, Live PD: Wanted, which focused on catching fugitives. That morning I came home, and I told my wife I was gonna be a cop, he concluded. PHOENIX - Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu comes out and admits he's gay on Saturday a day after he's accused of a major scandal. Senate. | Auditors said Babeu and Voyles also sent$683,406 to a nonprofit called the Arizona Public Safety Foundationmanaged by members of the sheriff's staff, a potential violation ofconflict-of-interest laws. Personal website. Were going to find out who is willing to die for freedom. He also makes direct appeals to citizens, an effort that looks more dangerous after former President Donald Trump riled up supporters on Jan. 6. This 6-month-long detailed search led to the termination of Arpaio's top two deputies. During his tenure he served a tour in Iraq and spent 17 months deployed in Arizona as a commander with Operation Jump Start (Southwest Border Mission). The Cognitive Dissonance of Being Gay and Republican: Paul Babeu Speaks Make a one-time donation today for as little as $1. Orozco claimed his statements are documented in copies of email and SMS correspondence between Orozco and Babeu. Paul Raymond Babeu (pronounced BAB-you; [1] born February 3, 1969) is an American law enforcement officer, politician and member of the Republican Party who was sheriff of Pinal County, Arizona, from January 1, 2009, to January 1, 2017. Another man walking by said, The sheriff is a good dude. Everyone gathered for a picture, just one more. He said requests did not appear to be made for specific dollar amounts and no system appeared to be in place to review where the money went. Babeu first mentioned the alleged crimes on Saturday, when he held a press conference to discuss Jose's allegations. He was Pinal County's first Republican sheriff.[2]. [31] On August 30, 2016, Babeu was declared the winner of the Republican primary. In 2001, Babeu ran for a rematch against Barrett, but lost again. Lamb said a recent major request involved $50,000 to pay for computer equipment that will allow investigators to download large amounts of data from cell phones, laptops and other electronic devices without inhibiting use. independent local journalism in Phoenix. The school closed in 2004, following the death of its founder Michael DeSisto. The Goldwater Institute, a conservative watchdog group, raised concerns about the foundation last year and sought records to determine if Babeu was using it to bypass campaign-finance laws and promote his 2016 congressional campaign. | Lambs advocacy follows in the tradition of constitutional sheriffs, who for decades have propagated the idea refuted by constitutional experts that sheriffs are the supreme legal authority in America, above even the president and the Supreme Court, and that they can choose not to enforce any law they consider unconstitutional. Lamb supported the stop the steal campaign in Arizona and has expressed sympathy for the Jan. 6 rioters. In a February interview with ABC15, Goldwater attorney Jared Blanchard said they decided to look at Pinal County after questions were raised about funds being used to promote Babeu in a way that could benefit his congressional campaign. Shutterstock. 4:00AM. DeRose said gossip about Babeu would focus attention on Orozco, attention that could result in his deportation, Orozco says. Ultimately, many residents of Pinal County, which voted 58 percent for Trump in 2020, align politically with Lamb. Sheriffs in almost every state operate independently with limited oversight, giving them the freedom to engage in political advocacy and appear in the media. The foundation used RICO funds from Pinal County to help support Sheriff's Office activities and functions. Romney Campaign Press Release - Mitt Romney Announces Support of (There is not, according to multiple courts; an audit in Arizona also reaffirmed Bidens victory there.) Home - Paul Babeu for Congress Sheriff Paul Babeu, President of the Arizona Sheriff's Association and the National Sheriff of the Year, is Arizona's youngest Sheriff and leads the third largest Sheriff's Office in the state with 700 full-time employees. The Arizona Republic investigated his charity, which aims to bridge the gap between law enforcement and communities, and found the group had misreported $18,000 in spending in fact, the charity didnt report any spending in 2018. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Article It could be one of the most competitive House seats in. The lawsuit accused Babeu and Voyles of exploiting Arizona's forfeiture laws, which provide little to no oversight on spending, plaintiff's attorneys said. Of 43 groups that did provide one, documentation was incomplete, the audit found. Two top former law-enforcement officials in Pinal County won't face state criminal charges over their questionable use of profitsfrom property seized during arrests and investigations. He also holds a bachelor's degree in history and political science from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and a summa cum laude master of public administration from American International College. and help keep the future of New Times, Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our, Babeu's Mexican Ex-Lover Says Sheriff's Attorney Threatened Him With Deportation, Babeu's Suspicious Past as School's Headmaster, Babeu Turns Distortion of Truth Into an Art Form, Babeu Sticks It to Taxpayers and a Volunteer Rescue Team. But his interpretation of the phrase generally implies opposition to whatever rules or laws he deems overly intrusive. Babeu served as the Police Association president for the Chandler Police Department and on the board of directors for the Arizona Police Association.[5]. The FBI is asking new questions about Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu and his office's use of seized criminal money. But ABC15 remains unable to confirm Gaffney's statement. [6], In 2002, he moved to Arizona to pursue a law enforcement career as a police officer for the city of Chandler, Arizona. There was an older Latino man named Randy wearing a snap-pocket shirt who had recently retired from a wild horse-and-burro program at the nearby prison and asked Lamb if he knew any cowboys. Compared with climbing on roofs all day to pick up bird poop, he says, law enforcement seemed safer. Lamb says the new network is important because we just felt like it was important to give [sheriffs] their voice back. When I asked if Lamb was concerned about a repeat of what happened in Texas, Vale dismissed it saying that lots of things are out of [the sheriffs] control. One episode features deputies tasing new recruits as part of their training, and watching as they scream pain.
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