As we left the gun range during my visit to Pinal County and stopped by a gas station to hydrate, we again ran into more fans of Lambs. and help keep the future of New Times, Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our. But Orozco suspected Babeu was lying. He says he once wrote a comment on Chino Valley eNews (on which Babeu had an account), where gay men arrange sexual liaisons. "I will likely get the compensation back that your actions are costing my family, unfortunately not from you personally, but from the poor taxpayers of Pinal County who will likely continue to suffer such actions due to what you continue to do," Karns writes to Babeu. Typically, county employees have the right to appeal any discipline they receive to the Pinal County Merit System Commission, a five-member board that can uphold, modify, or overturn county officials' decisions. Babeu had previously deniedany knowledge or awareness of the abuse. Copyright 2023 KJZZ/Rio Salado College/MCCCD. Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu denied claims he tried to threaten the man, a Mexican immigrant and a former campaign volunteer, with deportation if their past relationship was made public. Records show Babeu spent more than $53,000 to send 25 people to a weeklong conference in St. Louis at which he . Orozco claimed his statements are documented in copies of email and SMS correspondence between Orozco and Babeu. 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. See additional photos from text-messages between Sheriff Babeu and his ex-lover. Its not clear if the FBI has opened an official case. He said his own review of RICO funds indicated past requests were made in round numbers and did not require itemization. From 2006 to 2007, Babeu spent 17 months as commander of Task Force Yuma supervising 700 soldiers, where they supported the United States Border Patrol to achieve operational control and reduce illegal immigration. Gov. [5], At age 17, while still in high school, Babeu campaigned against a proposed raise for North Adams, Massachusetts, City Council members. All of Lambs activities outside Pinal County raise the question of whether he is making money off this work. More recently, he was a consultant on Kanye Wests quixotic 2020 presidential campaign. Arizona's forfeiture laws direct proceeds into the coffers of the prosecutors and law-enforcement agencies involved in seizing the items. Charismatic and ambitious, Mark Lamb embodies a new kind of Trump-era lawman. Pinal County is 5,400 square miles, roughly the size of Connecticut, and much of it is sand. Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu today ended his bid for Congress. I dont know how loud we have to get before they start to listen to us and know that we will no longer tolerate them stripping our freedoms away, he said. Paul Babeu was the tenth of eleven children born into the family. 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. Former sheriffs Joe Arpaio and David Clarke, along with an estimated 138 currently serving sheriffs, are self-declared adherents of the philosophy, which evolved out of the white nationalist, anti-Semitic movement known as posse comitatus, meaning the power of the county. Lamb, although he spoke at a convention for constitutional sheriffs last year and says he appreciate[s] those guys standing up for the rule of law, the Constitution and freedom, doesnt call himself a constitutional sheriff. Requests are often limited to reimbursements and often require proof of expenses. The foundation used RICO funds from Pinal County to help support Sheriff's Office activities and functions. "What we're focused on is making sure we're as transparent as possible," he said. Republican Mark Lamb succeeded Babeu as sheriff.[34][35]. Next door in Pinal County, Lamb embraced Arpaios anti-immigrant bent; before long he appeared, sure enough, on Fox News to talk about the border crisis (though Pinal County is not on the U.S.-Mexico border), and deployed officers and equipment to help federal authorities with immigration enforcement. Doug Barrett for POLITICO. [27], Babeu dropped his congressional bid on May 11, 2012; instead he sought re-election as sheriff. 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. Follow him on Twitter @robertanglen. The audit said those expenditures effectively bypassed the county's purchasing procedures, which require various levels of approval. If it doesnt benefit Pinal County, I dont need to be on the news, he said at the time. Arizona police seized $200 million in personal property, but where did the money go? 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. Brandon Bell/Getty Images. ", Orozco responded: "Good threats. Paul Babeu - Joe Biden Bio This should go without saying.". Unless like today. Pinal County Sheriffs Office Director of Administration Tim Gaffney sent ABC15 a written statement denying that there is any open investigation into their office. Become a member to support the independent voice of Phoenix Building off his social media popularity he has more than 300,000 Facebook followers, high for a sheriff and his desire to elevate law enforcement, this past May he announced the launch of the American Sheriff Network, which for $4.99 month allows viewers to watch 10- to 20-minute segments showing sheriffs and their deputies as they respond to calls for service a mix of sheriff propaganda and reality television. The trailer for the new network features lots of shots of Lamb, his profile against a desert sunset as the camera pans slowly over the shadows of cacti. ", Babeu: "You have crossed the line. The hosts called him. (According to Vale, however, Lamb has not officially endorsed Lake or any other candidate in the race.). The lawsuit accused Babeu and Voyles of exploiting Arizona's forfeiture laws, which provide little to no oversight on spending, plaintiff's attorneys said. I dont think that Black Lives Matter is productive for the Blacks, Lamb also told me. Help us fight for you and support local journalism.Subscribe to azcentral.com today. About 1,000 Trump supporters had descended on the state Capitol; one group of them brought a guillotine. Today its closer to 100, and a faint whisp of cloud floats in the sky, daring itself to cover the blazing sun. Outside his day job in Pinal County, Lamb, shown here at a cafe in Florence, Ariz., is involved with a new nonprofit coalition of sheriffs and a streaming network highlighting the work sheriffs do as they respond to calls for service. Foundation Executive Director Joseph Trasser has declined to discuss the subpoena and in March said the FBI probe of Babeu and Voyles "is not our issue.". Paul Babeu says "drugs and stuff like that." Note: The following comments begin 1:00 into the clip. But Jose Orozco refused. The Anti-Defamation League recently released a report calling CSPOA an anti-government extremist group and citing public appearances Mack has made with white supremacist individuals or groups. Another patron of the diner walked by. DeRose said gossip about Babeu would focus attention on Orozco, attention that could result in his deportation, Orozco says. Babeu was tapping RICO funds to pay for Sheriff's Office travel as early as 2011. Pinal County Supervisor Jeff Serdy, who owns what he describes as a very high-volume gun shop in the area, told me, You could not ask for a better advocate for the Second Amendment than Sheriff Lamb. The back of Lambs black Chevy Silverado 2500 HD contains his workaday weaponry, including an AR-15 SBR. The proposed change also would mean more money for most lieutenants, with a total of $32,281.60 in annual pay increases. Sheriff Paul Babeu is a decorated lawman, Iraq war veteran, and a corruption fighter. The status of both federal investigations was unknown. Shutterstock. [29], On August 31, 2012, the Arizona solicitor general exonerated Babeu after an investigation. On Jan. 6, the day rioters stormed the Capitol in Washington, Lamb appeared at a rally in Phoenix to protest the presidential election results. The pandemic has given Lamb, like much of the GOP, a new pet cause. [23] He ran against one-term Representative Paul Gosar, who had been elected to the state's 1st congressional district in 2010. Photos by Doug Barrett/@400northcreative for Politico Magazine. Lamb says he was always interested in guns but didnt plan for a law enforcement career. Visit his site and learn more today! (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. Arizona won't prosecute Paul Babeu, Lando Voyles on use of RICO funds Paul Babeu, Pinal County Sheriff, Lambasted by Newly-Retired PCSO They exchanged more texts on September 6. The federal grand jury also asked for documents involving funds that were provided to the Arizona Public Safety Foundation, a non-profit agency that received hundreds of thousands of dollars in Pinal County RICO funds. Babeu made that announcement after reports surfaced that he had tried to have a former boyfriend deported. He won the Republican nomination against Peter Abair. 5542%. 6:00AM. Paul Babeu's Mexican Ex-Lover Says Sheriff's Attorney Threatened Him [1] Babeu has spoken of being molested for several years as a child by at least two Catholic priests, including Richard R. I believe in letting people live the way that they feel like they need to live., To spend time with Lamb is to realize just how far a lawman can drift from the law itself and how little people seem to care, as long as he says the right stuff on TV. Days after stepping down from a position with Mitt Romney's presidential campaign, Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu sat down with CNN's Wolf Blitzer to talk about recent allegations that he. Local activist Roberto Reveles, who through the ACLU of Arizona has organized against racial profiling and other anti-immigrant policies in the state, has known Lamb since his earliest days as sheriff. Voyles, who is a prosecutor for the Gila River Indian Community, did not return calls. They contended the foundation operated as a pass-through for funds for Babeu and Voyles. Personal website. The National Sheriffs Association, of which Lamb is a member, has a model code of ethics for sheriffs that prohibits using the office for private gain, among other things. Fight Night: How Phoenix Became a Hotbed for Mixed Martial Arts Champions, Super Fans, Mascot Mania, and All-Stars: Suns and Nuggets Get Ready to Rumble, Katie Hobbs Gets Singed After Unwrapping Tamale-tastrophe, New Attainable Not Necessarily Affordable Housing Coming to Downtown Phoenix, I Love the Rivalry: Fans Soak Up U.S.-Mexico Soccer Showdown in the Valley. Lamb said he wants to release RICO funds quarterlyand that he will require recipients to submit a breakdown of expenses, which will be reviewed by a committee before a request is approved. Doug Barrett for POLITICO. [11][12], Babeu joined the Massachusetts National Guard as a 21-year-old. 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.. The source: Babeu's sister Lucy. Time on the screen says 5:02 p.m. . Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu announces run for Congress This month, he also was a featured speaker alongside Clarke, the former Milwaukee sheriff, and others at the American Priority Conference, a far-right convening held at Trumps resort in Miami. Two of Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu's Sisters Endorse His Rival KJZZ is a service of Rio Salado College, and Maricopa Community Colleges Paul Babeu - Ballotpedia (A federal judge later found Arpaio in criminal contempt of a court order to stop racially profiling Latino residents, but Trump later pardoned him.) Orozco claimed that Babeu had known that he was an illegal alien while they were lovers, at odds with Babeu's views on immigration policy. Former Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu and County Attorney Lando Voyles said they have been maligned and subjected to "disparaging statements" over their handling of profits from seized. Auditors said the pair funneled money to community groups without proper oversight and sometimes without paperwork detailing how the money would be spent. Orozco says Babeu told him that he loved him and was with him exclusively. 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. The message: Sheriffs are here to protect your freedom including freedom from your own democratically elected government. CLARIFICATION: This article has been updated to include the results of an into allegations made against Sheriff Paul Babeu. Babeu first mentioned the alleged crimes on Saturday, when he held a press conference to discuss Jose's allegations. Newly elected Sheriff Mark Lamb was ordered by subpoena to deliver records to the grand jury evidencing misuse of county, state or federal RICO funds by Pinal County Sheriffs Office employees.. Wont work. 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." He says he commented anonymously that the sheriff was not who people thought he was. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Article It could be one of the most competitive House seats in. The lawsuit claimed the county agencies were misusing RICO funds and funneling money through the Arizona Public Safety Foundation. Devin Burghart, who runs the Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights, which analyzes far-right social movements, says understanding sheriffs like Lamb is important in the long-term fight for democracy. Researcher Cloee Cooper said Lambs highly politicized approach to his job is ultimately undermining a safe and just society. Asked about how supporters might interpret his anti-government messaging, Lamb told me, Im a very pro-freedom person. . Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board, for TV commercials featuring that damning home video. E.g. He was Pinal County's first Republican sheriff.[2]. He was Pinal County's first Republican sheriff. The 34-year-old from central Mexico charges that the sheriff's lawyer warned against mentioning the affair with Babeu. "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. Since taking office, Lamb also has appeared with the Federation for American Immigration Reform, an anti-immigration organization that the Southern Poverty Law Center considers a hate group. The man's allegations were first published Friday in the Phoenix New Times, an alternative weekly magazine. In cases where money is distributed in advance, recipients must show it was used for the specific request. 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. and you didn't care.". January 8, 2013 Later, rioters broke a window as they yelled out for Doug Ducey, the Republican governor who had certified Bidens victory in Arizona. But now Reveles is among those Pinal County residents who say Lambs involvement in politics and entertainment has gone too far, distracting him from the job he was elected to do and perhaps even influencing how he does it. A group of kids gathered around Lambs truck for sheriff-branded stickers. The spokesman confirmed that Babeu would continue to run for U.S. and help keep the future of New Times, Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our. It could be his size hes 63, 240 pounds, or so he writes in his self-published book, American Sheriff: Traditional Values in a Modern World. The back of Lambs black Chevy Silverado 2500 HD contains his workaday weaponry, including an AR-15 SBR. Babeu's Twitter page still presents him as a sheriff. Doug Barrett for POLITICO. Babeu is vice president of the Arizona Sheriffs' Association[15] and was named the National Sheriff of the Year in 2011 by the National Sheriffs' Association. Babeu was tapping RICO funds to pay for Sheriff's Office travel as early as 2011. 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. "[18] Babeu also helped U.S. 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. Make a one-time donation today for as little as $1. Make a one-time donation today for as little as $1. [3][4], Babeu holds an associate degree in law enforcement from the Arizona Law Enforcement Academy. Paul Babeu was a 2016 Republican candidate who sought election to the U.S. House to represent the 1st Congressional District of Arizona. The sheriff denies funding was a problem, saying he raised more money in his 4th District congressional bid than either of his opponents. 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. Karns, however, would have faced a nearly $15,000 pay cut. 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. In the open primary, Babeu ranked first but failed to reach the 50% threshold. (In the two weeks after a police officer killed George Floyd in Minneapolis last year, some 10,000 protesters were arrested around the country, compared with about 600 Jan. 6 rioters so far.) | Kjzz [24], A spokesman for Babeu denied the allegations and described them as "sensationalist". "There wasdefinitely sloppy record-keeping and a lack of checks and balances," Ryan Anderson, the AG's director of communications, said. Lately, Lamb has been supporting the campaign of Kari Lake, a Trump-endorsed former Fox anchor running for Arizonas open governors seat in 2022. Lamb was a fixture on the show, as well as a host of a spinoff, Live PD: Wanted, which focused on catching fugitives. A man with tattoos and well-groomed blond facial hair wearing a Proud American T-shirt (a design sold by the right-wing shock jocks the Hodgetwins) ran across the parking lot for a photo with the sheriff. [28] He was re-elected by a large margin on November 6, 2012. Romney Campaign Press Release - Mitt Romney Announces Support of A three-member committee made up of a detention officer, a sheriff's sergeant and a civilian review all requests for RICO funds. including yourself & your family. independent local journalism in Phoenix. Orozco: "Dont threat me. The subpoena comes on the heels of an FBI probe of Babeu and former Pinal County Attorney Lando Voyles and whether they inappropriately used profits from seized property for personal and professional expenses. "He wanted his legal rights protected. All rights reserved. President Donald Trump, center, with Vice President Mike Pence, right, speaks during a meeting with sheriffs from around the country before leaving the White House for a trip to El Paso, Texas, in 2019. The latest of the alleged threats were made through Babeu's personal attorney, who's also running the sheriff's campaign for Congress in District 4, the ex-lover says. private school led by Babeu", "Massachusetts Office of Child Care Services vs DeSisto School Inc and A. Michael Desisto", "Documents: Babeu ran private boarding school with history of physical abuse", "Pinal County 2008 General Election Results", "Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu Elected to Second Term as President of Arizona Sheriff's Association", "Paul Babeu named 2011 Sheriff of the Year", "Senators McCain and Kyl Announce Border Security Plan", "Joe Arpaio aide investigation finished by Babeu", "Pinal Sheriff's Office stockpiles, prepares to sell military equipment", "Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission", "Paul Babeu's Mexican Ex-Lover Says Sheriff's Attorney Threatened Him With Deportation (, "Babeu bombshell: Gay relationship & deportation threats, report says", "Arizona Sheriff Paul Babeu Angrily Denies Ex-Boyfriend's Accusations", "Will recent allegations damage Babeu's political future? If hes re-elected as sheriff, Babeu says he plans to continue to battle drug trafficking in the county. In 2001, Babeu ran for a rematch against Barrett, but lost again. 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. Lamb says the network takes its inspiration from Live PD, an A&E show that ran from 2016 until 2020, when it was canceled after deputies in Williamson County, Texas, were caught on camera tasing a man named Javier Ambler, and ultimately killing him. Senator John McCain, who called Babeu his friend. The vast rural district, which includes Flagstaff, suburbs of Tucson and the Navajo Reservation, is one of the largest in the country. Voyles said any suggestion that he and Babeu did something unethical or illegal is unfounded.. According to Babeu's website, "Pinal County is the number one pass through county in all of America for drug and human smuggling. ABC15 has learned agents in the FBI . The sheriff didn't dispute the authenticity of any text messages or photos appearing with this article.). For example, nearly $88,000 went to programs designed to boost morale or provide recreation for the Sheriff's Office such as golf outings or tickets to sporting events and banquets. The relationship soured, and Orozco believes that Babeu sent DeRose after him. Lamb, too, is on the advisory committee, but hes also the groups most prominent public representative. | In a written statement, he wrote "The investigation determined that Babeu did not commit any criminal violations and further concluded that, although Orozco conducted himself in a manner that may constitute a violation of the law, there was no reasonable likelihood of conviction on anything more than a misdemeanor charge. 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. Instead, his pro-sheriff messaging with media savvy and Trump-y politics thrown in the mix seems designed for a wider audience. Phoenix's independent source of He says DeRose demanded the passwords to Babeu's websites and social-media accounts. Lamb said this month that he is reviewing every aspect of RICO expenditures before releasing funds and wants to create a new approval and review process. This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions. | AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta. Paul: No. (In response to the incident, Texas passed a state law that forbids law enforcement agencies from partnering with reality television shows.) Any money left over must be returned. "We never found proof of criminal activity," he said. Robert Tsai, a constitutional law professor at Boston University, told me he sees Protect America Now as political in nature an effort to leverage sheriffs in mainstream Republican politics, while also branding [sheriffs] for future political careers. Lamb says Protect America Now is not a political organization, but that its efforts are viewed as political sometimes. Yet Protect America Now, a 501(c)4, was founded in June 2020 by a group that includes Nathan Sproul, an Arizona-based Republican strategist. They said he accused them of criminal conduct. Reveles hoped Lamb would not turn out to be another Arpaio or Babeu. Orozco admits that he lashed out on news websites featuring stories about Babeu. Arizona's forfeiture laws direct proceeds into the coffers of the prosecutors and law-enforcement agencies involved in seizing the items. 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. For example, Lamb, an ardent defender of the Second Amendment, has spoken in support of the formation of private militias well within the Constitution, he told a group of supporters in March and emphasized the power of sheriffs in Arizona, an open-carry state, to call local civilians into service to suppress all affrays, insurrections and riots that comes to the attention of the sheriff. Last year, as Black Lives Matter protests swept across the country, he formed a local civilian posse to assist his office with law enforcement, even though there were no such protests in Pinal County. Get the latest updates in news, food, music and culture, and receive special offers direct to your inbox. The county also enjoys relatively low levels of crime. He Calls Himself the 'American Sheriff.' Whose Law Is He Following?
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