Weve come to the range because shooting is Lambs favorite pastime. Please dont. has expressed sympathy for the Jan. 6 rioters, spoke at a recent anti-vaccine rally in Phoenix, along with an estimated 138 currently serving sheriffs, unabashed member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, defeated Babeus anointed successor in the primary, promised he would focus on building relationships within the county, has appeared with the Federation for American Immigration Reform, 650 employees and a $39 million annual budget, with a stated mission of educating Americans, The Arizona Republic investigated his charity, The state ethics committee investigated Lamb, A local newspaper also accused him of having an affair, a design sold by the right-wing shock jocks the Hodgetwins. Join the New Times community and help support Babeu campaigned for the office of Pinal County Sheriff in 2008 and defeated Democratic incumbent Chris Vasquez, 54% to 46%. In this case, he's both.". independent local journalism in Phoenix. And I will serve the people where I can.. They exchanged more texts on September 6. 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. Another man walking by said, The sheriff is a good dude. Everyone gathered for a picture, just one more. Lamb has appeared multiple times with Trump at the White House and other political events. 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. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Article It could be one of the most competitive House seats in. 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. In late January, ABC15 exposed a damning home video showing Babeu praising the abusive and inhumane treatment of special needs children at a boarding school he used to run. Babeu ran for Arizona's 4th congressional district in the 2012 elections to the United States House of Representatives but withdrew and came out as gay after a personal controversy. 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. 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. [3][4], Babeu holds an associate degree in law enforcement from the Arizona Law Enforcement Academy. Later, rioters broke a window as they yelled out for Doug Ducey, the Republican governor who had certified Bidens victory in Arizona. He became the Republican nominee for Arizona's 1st congressional district in the 2016 elections after winning the primary on August 30, 2016. Questions about the foundation also were raised in a 2015 federal lawsuitby attorneys from Perkins Coie and the American Civil Liberties Union. Arizona's forfeiture laws direct proceeds into the coffers of the prosecutors and law-enforcement agencies involved in seizing the items. local news and culture, Stephen Lemons 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. The message: Sheriffs are here to protect your freedom including freedom from your own democratically elected government. It could be his demeanor, at once confident and aw-shucks. Informed of the situation, Nancy-Jo Merritt, a longtime Phoenix immigration attorney, says a threat of deportation would be indicative of an "atmosphere that's been created politically in this state, so that if you get angry at someone who is Hispanic, you immediately jump down to the level of threatening to deport him. Because sheriffs are not usually term-limited, Lamb can stay in office as long as he gets reelected, or until he decides to run for another office, as many other sheriffs have though Lamb says he is happy where he is. In 2001, Babeu ran for a rematch against Barrett, but lost again. Paul Babeu, Pinal County Sheriff, Lambasted by Newly-Retired PCSO Another $63,772 distributed from the foundation went to public service announcements for both offices. Republican Sheriff Paul Babeu, Outed as Gay by Ex-Lover, Running Again Contact ABC15 Investigator Dave Biscobing at dbiscobing@abc15.com. Orozco: "Dont threat me. [32] O'Halleran defeated Babeu, receiving 51% of the vote to Babeu's 44%. 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. . . local news and culture, Monica Alonzo The foundation used RICO funds from Pinal County to help support Sheriff's Office activities and functions. He also argues the mob that overtook the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 was more heavily policed than the Black Lives Matter movement. [2] Of 43 groups that did provide one, documentation was incomplete, the audit found. "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. He flashes a Hollywood smile as he talks about the shine on the badge. Many of the episodes are filmed in a low-budget style and feature Lamb as a guide, introducing viewers to other sheriffs in Nevada and Arizona. Babeu's and Voyles use of RICO funds has been questioned for years in lawsuits and investigations. (The spot got picked up on Fox.) He withdrew from the race prior to the primary. 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. Another patron of the diner walked by. Paul Babeu Remains Sheriff of Pinal County Online [1] In 1992, Babeu was elected to a four-year term as a Berkshire County, Massachusetts, commissioner. Make a one-time donation today for as little as $1. The following February, Jose Orozco, who was an undocumented immigrant, claimed that Babeu and Orozco had been lovers since meeting in 2006 on an online dating site. Unless like today. local news and culture, Monica Alonzo Doug Ducey in 2017 signed a lawto increase oversight ofRICO expenditures and give people a better ability to challengeforfeiture laws. Photos by Doug Barrett/@400northcreative for Politico Magazine. You brother will also be contacted. Once elected, Lamb promised he would focus on building relationships within the county. Become a member to support the independent voice of Phoenix Babeu was tapping RICO funds to pay for Sheriff's Office travel as early as 2011. "One of the reasons is that record-keeping was so poor.". . Join the New Times community and help support If Fox calls, what are they going to do for me? But it didnt take long for him to begin leaning into national issues. The lawsuit claimed the county agencies were misusing RICO funds and funneling money through the Arizona Public Safety Foundation. 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. [25] Babeu came out as gay on February 18, 2012, saying that his sexual orientation was the only factual statement from the allegations. Lamb said he had no opinion on the AG's decision not to prosecuteBabeu and Voyles. local news and culture. [5], Babeu was awarded two Life Saving Medals in the performance of his duties as a patrolman in Chandler. KJZZ is a service of Rio Salado College, and Maricopa Community Colleges . 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. 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. They said he accused them of criminal conduct. 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. 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. Lamb chalked that up to an accountants error. On October 23, 2011, Babeu announced the formation of an exploratory committee to run for U.S. Congress in what would become Arizona's newly redrawn 4th congressional district. The former U.S. serviceman turned law enforcement officer, who by all accounts has lived an exemplary life, has a blaringly obvious blindside. ", Sheriff Babeu Abandons Race for Arizona Congressional Seat, "Arizona sheriff launches bid for Congress", "It's Republican Paul Babeu And Democrat Tom O'Halleran In Monstrous CD-1 Race", "Democrat Tom O'Halleran defeats Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu in CD-1", 3 best known Arizona sheriffs out in new year, Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu mum on plans after leaving office, Paul Babeau biography at Pinal County Sheriff's Office, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Paul_Babeu&oldid=1147812398, Candidates in the 1996 United States elections, Candidates in the 2012 United States elections, Candidates in the 2016 United States elections, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts alumni, United States Army personnel of the Iraq War, Articles with dead external links from March 2022, Articles with permanently dead external links, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 2 April 2023, at 10:08. 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. When the coronavirus pandemic hit, he publicly resisted Arizonas mask mandates and stay-at-home orders before catching Covid himself last year, which he discovered when he was denied entry to the White House for a meeting with Trump. Lavigne. If you're the victim of fraud, waste or abuse, reach him at robert.anglen@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8694. LAMBERT: Babeus exit from the primary leaves Lake Havasu Republican Senator Ron Gould and 1st District Congressman Paul Gosar to fight it out for the GOP nomination. Arizona won't prosecute Paul Babeu, Lando Voyles on use of RICO funds 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. Lamb, too, is a client; his PR representative, Vale, is employed by Sprouls strategy group. 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 back of Lambs black Chevy Silverado 2500 HD contains his workaday weaponry, including an AR-15 SBR. The council reduced the pay hike and Babeu, running as an independent, turned his effort into a successful campaign and was elected to City Council at the age of 18. | But Orozco suspected Babeu was lying. Florence is the county seat. Lambs first law enforcement job was with the Salt River Police Department in neighboring Maricopa County beginning in 2006. Sheriffs good with me, Lamb said, looking abashed, like any good politician should. Join the New Times community and help support 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. [8] In the general election, Barrett won re-election and defeated Babeu 53%-47%,[1] a difference of just 353 votes, in an election with an unusually high turnout rate of 75% among registered voters. He Calls Himself the 'American Sheriff.' Whose Law Is He Following? The county also enjoys relatively low levels of crime. Through Protect America Now, which was founded by a Republican strategist and two businesspeople working with Lamb and counterparts nationwide, he is marshalling dozens of other elected sheriffs and citizen supporters around these ideas building an army as the group puts it. Now, with the public's memory of the scandal fading. Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu today ended his bid for Congress. (According to Vale, however, Lamb has not officially endorsed Lake or any other candidate in the race.). [21] After an Arizona Republic newspaper report, the Defense Logistics Agency directed Babeu "to retrieve vehicles and other equipment his office distributed to non-police organizations".[22]. [9] The school was in a long legal fight with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts over licensing, allegations of child abuse, a Commonwealth-imposed enrollment freeze, and accusations of failing to create a safe environment for its students. [7], In 1997, he ran for mayor of North Adams against incumbent Democrat John Barrett III. 6:00AM. ", (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. 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. All rights reserved. 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. 6:31PM. [14] Babeu was reelected in 2012 with 53.3% of the votes, winning out over Democrat and independent candidates. We dont go to a shooting range as much as an open, sandy field that Lamb says belongs to a friend of his. He was Pinal County's first Republican sheriff. While Lamb has gotten more and more scrutiny in Arizona, he has mostly brushed it off. The audit highlighted 31 awards, totaling $683,406 that went to the Arizona Public Safety Foundation. If you didn't know better, you might think Babeu is still sheriff, based on his website. Arizona Sheriff's Warning to Hikers About 'Mexican Drug Assassins' Is Its not clear if the FBI has opened an official case. Babeu has been a national leader on the need to secure our border and stop illegal immigration and drug and human trafficking. Compared with climbing on roofs all day to pick up bird poop, he says, law enforcement seemed safer. Newly elected Pinal County Attorney Kent Volkmer said he also has asked the Arizona auditor general to review Pinal County's asset-forfeiture records to determine if monies were properly used. Perhaps Paul Babeu, the Arizona sheriff and former Romney campaign manager, should spend more time studying the Republican Party's approach to gay rights. He started his service as a private and rose through the ranks to major in the Arizona Army National Guard. From November 8 onward, Babeu was like a man racing against the hourglass, appearing numerous times on Fox Business, Fox News and Fox 10 Phoenix, attired in his tan uniform. We'll be in touch if we look into your question. Yet he styles himself as the American Sheriff a moniker around which he has spent the past several years trying to build a national brand as a fervent defender of law enforcement. 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. Records showBabeu spent more than $53,000 to send 25 people to a weeklong conference in St. Louisat which he received a national award. Auditors said the pair funneled money to community groups without proper oversight and sometimes without paperwork detailing how the money would be spent.
Jokes To Cheer Someone Up In Hospital,
Mike's Pastry Cash Only,
Articles W