where is paul babeu today

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. Make a one-time donation today for as little as $1. About 1,000 Trump supporters had descended on the state Capitol; one group of them brought a guillotine. Melissa Weiss-Riner, Orozco's attorney, confirms her client's account. | 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. ", The following day, on September 7, De-Rose sent an e-mail directly to Orozco ordering him to "cease and desist. While Lamb has gotten more and more scrutiny in Arizona, he has mostly brushed it off. "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. Make a one-time donation today for as little as $1. They exchanged more texts on September 6. This summer, he made a short video saying he would not require, or ask, his staff to get vaccinated. "Jose came to our firm because he felt he was being intimidated, and he was in fear for his life," Weiss-Riner says. 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. Babeu campaigned for the office of Pinal County Sheriff in 2008 and defeated Democratic incumbent Chris Vasquez, 54% to 46%. Phoenix's independent source of [6], In 2002, he moved to Arizona to pursue a law enforcement career as a police officer for the city of Chandler, Arizona. Orozco says Babeu told him that he loved him and was with him exclusively. Pinal CountySheriff Mark Lamb said Wednesday that RICO funds no longer serve as a slush fund. ", Orozco responded: "Good threats. [29], On August 31, 2012, the Arizona solicitor general exonerated Babeu after an investigation. local news and culture, Monica Alonzo They said he accused them of criminal conduct. If hes re-elected as sheriff, Babeu says he plans to continue to battle drug trafficking in the county. (FAIR has dismissed the characterization, calling the SPLC a partisan attack dog.) Earlier this summer, Lamb gathered some two dozen other sheriffs for a Protect America Now rally along the border in Arizona, where he declared, We are standing up for the Constitution, our oath and the rights of the people.. It could be his demeanor, at once confident and aw-shucks. Phoenix's independent source of | Doug Barrett for POLITICO. Under Babeu and Voyles, Pinal County became the poster child for abuse of RICO funds, prompting lawsuits and legislative reforms. [1] Babeu has spoken of being molested for several years as a child by at least two Catholic priests, including Richard R. If it doesnt benefit Pinal County, I dont need to be on the news, he said at the time. "That's just the worst kind of hypocrisy. 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. And I will serve the people where I can.. There was the waitress who told Lamb he needed to gain weight. 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. [24], A spokesman for Babeu denied the allegations and described them as "sensationalist". Another patron of the diner walked by. . He asked the auditor general to recommend the best way to use those funds. Lamb said he had no opinion on the AG's decision not to prosecuteBabeu and Voyles. A staunch conservative, Republican Babeu has made his stance on illegal immigration known to the nation as he fights for stricter laws. Any money left over must be returned. He was Pinal County's first Republican sheriff.[2]. 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. He also argues the mob that overtook the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 was more heavily policed than the Black Lives Matter movement. 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. 5542%. 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. 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. Voyles said any suggestion that he and Babeu did something unethical or illegal is unfounded.. 6:31PM. . "It is truly puzzling why Captain Karns overreacted to an organizational change that has yet to take place, and I can only surmise that some other issue is in play that made him lash out," Gaffney says in his statement. [26] Babeu stepped down as co-chair of Mitt Romney's presidential campaign in Arizona, but received the continued support of U.S. Babeu's statement said that "Border Patrol agents were shot at by drug smugglers last month on the Tohono O'odham Reservation south of Pinal County," but it's unclear whether the shooting involved . Those who are classified as "at-will" employees do not. and make legal threats opens a Pandora's box of ethics issues for any law enforcement person or any elected person. Kennedy pointed to the provision about private gain, as well as one requiring equal protection of all citizens, without allowing personal opinion, party affiliations, or consideration of the status of others to alter or lessen this standard of treatment., Asked to respond, Vale said Lamb keeps a strict division between his work as the Pinal County sheriff and his image as the American Sheriff. Vale added, All of his activities, both as sheriff and in his private time, are vetted through the [Pinal] County attorney. The attorney, Kent Volkmer, told me Lamb has consulted with him, including on Protect America Now and the American Sheriff Network, but said he does not review every single appearance Lamb makes outside his capacity as sheriff. Make a one-time donation today for as little as $1. 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. Congress. Phoenix's independent source of 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. FLORENCE, Ariz. The first thing to know about Mark Lamb, the sheriff of Pinal County, Arizona, is that he just plain looks like a sheriff. They seemed unsurprised to see their sheriff talking to a reporter and flashing his TV-ready smile. ", She adds that federal immigration-enforcement agents have better things to do than "take care of Babeu's boyfriends. Keating says her JP sibling had been living at the house Babeu is selling until recently, perhaps renting from the. The school closed in 2004, following the death of its founder Michael DeSisto. I love America. independent local journalism in Phoenix. In public, Lamb commands attention. Orozco claimed his statements are documented in copies of email and SMS correspondence between Orozco and Babeu. Two weeks before, in mid-June, the temperature was a newsworthy 110-plus degrees. 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. 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. Senator John McCain, who called Babeu his friend. Forfeiture laws, in general, created a multimillion-dollar "slush fund available to (law enforcement) with little or no oversight," the lawsuit said. Doug Barrett for POLITICO, Lamb went through a variety of jobs, including running a paintball business in Utah that ultimately failed. LAMBERT: Babeu says the federal government was refusing to allow Henry to both supervise federal funds in the Pinal County Sheriffs Office and run for sheriff. I have to protect the families of my county, even in the absence of the federal government. Arizona's forfeiture laws direct proceeds into the coffers of the prosecutors and law-enforcement agencies involved in seizing the items. The FBI declined comment Wednesday. I asked Sean Kennedy, a professor at Loyola Law School who is on the oversight commission for the Los Angeles County sheriff, about Lambs involvement with Protect America Now and other outside activities, and he said he believes Lambs behavior violates the NSAs code. When their relationship soured, Orozco claimed Babeu had threatened to have him deported unless he signed a contract swearing him to secrecy. In 2017, the FBI launched a probe into RICO expenditures in Pinal County and conducted an informal search of the Pinal County Sheriff's Office. Questions about the foundation also were raised in a 2015 federal lawsuitby attorneys from Perkins Coie and the American Civil Liberties Union. He lost in the general election to Democrat Andrea F. Nuciforo, Jr. A Republican, he was elected in 2010 to represent the neighboring 1st congressional district . Can we start calling you senator? the man asked. The poor record-keeping noted by auditors was also a key factor preventing the AG's officefrom filing charges against Babeu and Voyles, Anderson said. Congressman and have endorsed one of his rivals for the GOP primary in Arizona's First. 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. . The Show highlights the creative builders, makers and designers that are sharing their talents with Arizonans. Become a member to support the independent voice of Phoenix Some locals here say he is focused more on playing a sheriff in the national spotlight than serving his constituents. "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. ", A couple of minutes later, Babeu followed with: "And you say you have loved me? Before its cancellation, Live PD was immensely popular, capturing more viewers than any other cable program on Friday and Saturday nights. [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. Im already hurt me . The lawsuit claimed the county agencies were misusing RICO funds and funneling money through the Arizona Public Safety Foundation. Super Fans, Mascot Mania, and All-Stars: Suns and Nuggets Get Ready to Rumble, Katie Hobbs Gets Singed After Unwrapping Tamale-tastrophe, Fight Night: How Phoenix Became a Hotbed for Mixed Martial Arts Champions, 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. Sheriff Babeu won his first term in a landslide election victory in 2008 over the incumbent Sheriff. 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. He says he once wrote a comment on Chino Valley eNews (on which Babeu had an account), where gay men arrange sexual liaisons. | AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta. [6], At the end of this term in 1996, Babeu ran for a seat in the Massachusetts Senate based in Berkshire, Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin. Lamb insists he has never said Biden did not win the election. Get the latest updates in news, food, music and culture, and receive special offers direct to your inbox. independent local journalism in Phoenix. Im just speaking . "If what [Babeu's attorney] says is correct [about Orozco's being illegal], either the sheriff had a long relationship with someone he knew was undocumented, while all the time being Mr. Bluster about the border and using it for political gain," or he threatened to deport someone he just broke up with, Merritt says. 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. Today, our Chief Deputy directly contacted a top level supervisor within the Federal Bureau of Investigations who confirmed their office does not have any open investigation on our office but rather there is an open investigation against another Sheriffs Office in Arizona, Gaffney wrote. The hosts called him. Both could face federal criminal charges. and last updated 5:01 AM, Mar 30, 2016. Protect America Now is new enough that its tax filings have not yet been made public, but Vale told me Lamb does not get paid by the group, outside reimbursements for expenses. Your contact infoWe'll be in touch if we look into your question. Lamb has appeared multiple times with Trump at the White House and other political events. 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. Time on the screen says 5:02 p.m. . 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). 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. He said his own review of RICO funds indicated past requests were made in round numbers and did not require itemization. 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. 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." On his person, Lamb has a 9mm Glock pistol, plus a long knife, a taser, handcuffs and extra ammunition. [19], In late 2010, Babeu was asked by Maricopa County sheriff Joe Arpaio to investigate allegations of wrongdoing in Arapaio's department. Karns, promoted to captain in 2002, writes that Babeu's move is about gaining for himself "total and complete control and support, operationally and politically.". 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. "What we're focused on is making sure we're as transparent as possible," he said. Babeu heads a department of 700 and has worked to cut the budget, reorganize leadership, and reduce the response time from his department. The case was settled in April 2018, according to court records. And on Facebook, Babeu is still Pinal County's top law dog. | [5][17], Babeu has been an outspoken critic of the federal government on the issue of illegal immigration. He has also. The vast rural district, which includes Flagstaff, suburbs of Tucson and the Navajo Reservation, is one of the largest in the country. Copyright 2023 KJZZ/Rio Salado College/MCCCD. 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. 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. A federal grand jury is investigating how the Pinal County Sheriffs Office handled profits from seized property under former Sheriff Paul Babeu. 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. In 2001, Babeu ran for a rematch against Barrett, but lost again. Jessica Pishko is a writer and a lawyer who is working on a book about sheriffs. Doug Barrett for POLITICO. It will also create "a 'forever' atmosphere of constant nagging-fear, constant tension, and constant stress, worrying if today is the day Paul terminates me," he writes. "[18] Babeu also helped U.S. including yourself & your family. "He wanted his legal rights protected. The grand jury probe is a criminal investigation, according to a letterfrom Elizabeth Strange,the acting U.S. attorney for Arizona. CLARIFICATION: This article has been updated to include the results of an into allegations made against Sheriff Paul Babeu. 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? Lamb often invokes the importance of the rule of law but says of the Jan. 6 rioters, I guarantee you those people are very loving, Christian people. 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. Questions about the foundation also were raised in a 2015 federal lawsuit by attorneys from Perkins Coie and the American Civil Liberties Union. Join the New Times community and help support 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. [31] On August 30, 2016, Babeu was declared the winner of the Republican primary. But in a solidly conservative part of Arizona, Lamb so far has had plenty of leeway for more and more activities outside the county. During a July interview at a local caf here decked out in Old West paraphernalia, passersby interrupted to clasp hands heartily with him and chat. Lamb says he was always interested in guns but didnt plan for a law enforcement career. Paul Babeu says "drugs and stuff like that." Note: The following comments begin 1:00 into the clip. We'll be in touch if we look into your question. Gov. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. They are watching a movie . See also: Babeu Turns Distortion of Truth Into an Art Form The Goldwater Institute, a conservative watchdog group, raised concerns about the foundationin 2017 and sought records to determine if Babeu was using it to bypass campaign-finance laws and promote his 2016 congressional campaign. Lamb, center, speaks at a Turning Point Action gathering in Phoenix this past July. 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. Papi. Brandon Bell/Getty Images. Paul Babeu was a 2016 Republican candidate who sought election to the U.S. House to represent the 1st Congressional District of Arizona. The amount was the largest to any single group over the three years, the audit said.

Is Tony Terry Still Married, Move With Nicole Pilates Calendar, Articles W