Babeu first mentioned the alleged crimes on Saturday, when he held a press conference to discuss Jose's allegations. 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. Privacy Policy | FCC Public File | Contest Rules No, no. Contact ABC15 Investigator Dave Biscobing at dbiscobing@abc15.com. 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. Initially, Lamb worked in pest control, with a focus on pigeons. I asked Lamb if he was vaccinated, and he told me, through his PR representative, Corey Vale, to print exactly this: Thats nobodys damn business., Lamb makes a statement at the White House in support of Trumps veto of a bill that Congress passed to block the presidents declaration of a national emergency to fund a wall at the Southern border in March 2019. (According to Vale, however, Lamb has not officially endorsed Lake or any other candidate in the race.). It would be an inappropriate use of already-limited resources to prosecute Orozco for a misdemeanor. Joint Border Security Advisory Committee (A federal judge later found Arpaio in criminal contempt of a court order to stop racially profiling Latino residents, but Trump later pardoned him.) Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board, for TV commercials featuring that damning home video. If it doesnt benefit Pinal County, I dont need to be on the news, he said at the time. 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. local news and culture, Monica Alonzo All of Lambs activities outside Pinal County raise the question of whether he is making money off this work. 5542%. Orozco: "Dont threat me. 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 . The source: Babeu's sister Lucy. Better get an attorney. She says DeRose falsely claimed that Orozco's visa had expired. FBI agents conducted an informal search of the Pinal County Sheriff's Office in March, taking items related to Babeu and his administration. Become a member to support the independent voice of Phoenix Doug Barrett for POLITICO. This 6-month-long detailed search led to the termination of Arpaio's top two deputies. Senate. Pinal County is 5,400 square miles, roughly the size of Connecticut, and much of it is sand. 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. and make legal threats opens a Pandora's box of ethics issues for any law enforcement person or any elected person. He sarcastically thanks Babeu for "notifying me that you were involuntarily forcing an 'at-will' position on mepunitively reducing my pay by approximately $15,000 [and] handing me as good a 'Constructive Termination' cause of action as I have ever seen.". Robert Anglen investigates consumer issues for The Republic. It could be his demeanor, at once confident and aw-shucks. [2] The terms were not disclosed. "[18] He reported, "Pinal County contains an estimated 75-100 drug cartel cells and listening posts/observation posts, used to facilitate the illegal transportation of people and narcotics into the United States. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Article It could be one of the most competitive House seats in. Grand jury investigates Paul Babeu's use of RICO funds as Pinal County She says she spoke directly to the sheriff's lawyer, DeRose, about the Babeu camp's threats that Orozco could be deported if he "revealed the relationship." They contended the foundation operated as a pass-through for funds for Babeu and Voyles. "Albeit it is important to note that I will not seek one dime more than what I lost, since that is the only fair thing to do.". Thank you for your inquiry, as you know we cannot confirm or deny the existence of investigations, said FBI Special Agent Matthew Reinsmoen. Paul Anthony Gosar (/ o s r / GOH-sar; born November 27, 1958) is an American far-right politician and dentist who has represented Arizona's 9th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2023 and represented Arizona's 4th congressional district from 2013 to 2023. 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? 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. In an email, he wrote that Lamb is a Constitutional Sheriff and is one of the best sheriffs in America. Lamb, for his part, says he respects Mack and has a good relationship with CSPOA. But he emphasized to me that Protect America Now and CSPOA are different groups, and said he also does not support any form of white supremacy. Sheriff Paul Babeu is a decorated lawman, Iraq war veteran, and a corruption fighter. Lamb, 49, has jurisdiction over only Arizona's third most populous county, a stretch of desert. Babeu was born on February 3, 1969, in North Adams, Massachusetts, to Raymond and Helen Babeu. He was Pinal County's first Republican sheriff. 2023 www.azcentral.com. (There is not, according to multiple courts; an audit in Arizona also reaffirmed Bidens victory there.) He asked the auditor general to recommend the best way to use those funds. (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. 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. Republican Sheriff Paul Babeu, Outed as Gay by Ex-Lover, Running Again Doug Barrett for POLITICO. Lambs nose for PR is apparent, and it extends beyond Protect America Now. We dont go to a shooting range as much as an open, sandy field that Lamb says belongs to a friend of his. But ABC15 remains unable to confirm Gaffney's statement. 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. In this case, he's both.". The lawsuit claimed the county agencies were misusing RICO funds and funneling money through the Arizona Public Safety Foundation. "[10] Babeu was not named in any allegation during the investigation by the state. Home - Paul Babeu for Congress | Doug Barrett for POLITICO. Paul Gosar - Wikipedia Lamb said he had no opinion on the AG's decision not to prosecuteBabeu and Voyles. 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.". | FBI probes Babeu's use of seized criminal money - KNXV 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. 4:00AM. Ex-Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu hearts the shiny badge and spiffy uniform of his erstwhile office so much that he seems loath to relinquish it online. 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. 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. I love America. ", DeRose wrote: "If you are serious about an amicable resolution to this, it is critical that no further offensive actions against my client be taken in the meantime. Another man walking by said, The sheriff is a good dude. Everyone gathered for a picture, just one more. Two of Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu's Sisters Endorse His Rival 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. There was the waitress who told Lamb he needed to gain weight. "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. Unless like today. 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. Another $63,772 distributed from the foundation went to public service announcements for both offices. Babeu said Henry was left with three options: resign as chief deputy to run as a sheriff's candidate, withdraw his candidacy for sheriff or transfer to a non-leadership position within the sheriff . 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. The audit highlighted 31 awards, totaling $683,406 that went to the Arizona Public Safety Foundation. While Lamb has gotten more and more scrutiny in Arizona, he has mostly brushed it off. Paul Babeu, Outed GOP Candidate, On Same-Sex Marriage: 'You Can't 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. 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. I have to protect the families of my county, even in the absence of the federal government. About 1,000 Trump supporters had descended on the state Capitol; one group of them brought a guillotine. Earlier in March, Gaffney also barred this reporter from entering a press conference held by Sheriff Babeu in a public building. The decision by the AG's Office doesn't mean Babeu and Voyles have been cleared of wrongdoing. They are watching a movie . 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. The school closed in 2004, following the death of its founder Michael DeSisto. 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. Of 43 groups that did provide one, documentation was incomplete, the audit found. Under Babeu and Voyles, Pinal County became the poster child for abuse of RICO funds, prompting lawsuits and legislative reforms. But Orozco suspected Babeu was lying. We'll be in touch if we look into your question. His own sisters told people not to vote for him. Now he's a GOP 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. Senator John McCain and U.S. Lamb won office the same year Sheriff Arpaio was defeated in Maricopa. [10] Babeu stated that he had never been the target of an investigation or lawsuit and "was recognized for helping restore financial stability of the school. . 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. "That's just the worst kind of hypocrisy. He insists he doesnt have political ambitions beyond the sheriffs office, though. After the relationship ended, Orozco claims that Babeu threatened Orozco with deportation to guarantee his silence. 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). 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. Babeu retired in September 2010 after 20 years of service. Ariz. sheriff says he's gay after misconduct claims Sources said agents also are interested in whether Babeu and other staff used any RICO funds or other public resources for campaign purposes since Babeu is currently running for Congress. Once approved, the requests are sent to the county attorney's office for review by another committee. 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. But Jose Orozco refused. 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. Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu announces run for Congress Arizona Sheriff's Warning to Hikers About 'Mexican Drug Assassins' Is 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. This summer, he made a short video saying he would not require, or ask, his staff to get vaccinated. 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. [32] O'Halleran defeated Babeu, receiving 51% of the vote to Babeu's 44%. Orozco shared text messages between him and Babeu with New Times. Congressman and have endorsed one of his rivals for the GOP primary in Arizona's First. A federal grand jury is investigating how the Pinal County Sheriffs Office handled profits from seized property under former Sheriff Paul Babeu. [5][17], Babeu has been an outspoken critic of the federal government on the issue of illegal immigration. Babeu was first elected as sheriff in 2008. The Show highlights the creative builders, makers and designers that are sharing their talents with Arizonans. 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. 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. 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. 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. | ", A couple of minutes later, Babeu followed with: "And you say you have loved me? There have been reports Babeu's fundraising efforts took a hit in the wake of the controversy surrounding his announcement earlier this year that he is gay. DeRose said gossip about Babeu would focus attention on Orozco, attention that could result in his deportation, Orozco says. The status of both federal investigations was unknown. Orozco says Babeu told him that he loved him and was with him exclusively. Later, rioters broke a window as they yelled out for Doug Ducey, the Republican governor who had certified Bidens victory in Arizona. Pinal County Sheriff's Office Captain Jeffrey Karns, who retired today, lambasted Sheriff Paul Babeu in an e-mail he sent not only to Babeu, but to all PCSO staff. Paul Babeu says "drugs and stuff like that." Note: The following comments begin 1:00 into the clip. 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. 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. When I asked Lamb whether the storming of the Capitol on Jan. 6 was an example of people violating the very rule of law he professes to cherish, he replied, Just because somebody was there doesnt necessarily mean theyre guilty, then added, I guarantee you [the rioters] are very loving, Christian people. 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. for 1+3, enter 4. 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. . If you didn't know better, you might think Babeu is still sheriff, based on his website. Forfeiture laws, in general, created a multimillion-dollar "slush fund available to (law enforcement) with little or no oversight," the lawsuit said. In cases where money is distributed in advance, recipients must show it was used for the specific request. . Lamb fires his service pistol, a Glock 34. He has also. 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. He led Barrett by just 145 votes. Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu just won a primary for a competitive congressional seat in Arizona. If approved, the change effectively would strip those affected PCSO employees, primarily PCSO lieutenants, of their ability to appeal to a review board any decision Babeu made to discipline or terminate them. 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. The amount was the largest to any single group over the three years, the audit said. The case was settled in April 2018, according to court records. Pinal County Sheriff's Office Captain Jeffrey Karns, who retired today, lambasted Sheriff Paul Babeu in an e-mail he sent not only to Babeu, but to all PCSO staff. [24], A spokesman for Babeu denied the allegations and described them as "sensationalist". [19], In late 2010, Babeu was asked by Maricopa County sheriff Joe Arpaio to investigate allegations of wrongdoing in Arapaio's department. "[30], Babeu ran for Arizona's 1st congressional district in the 2016 elections. Questions about the foundation also were raised in a 2015 federal lawsuit by attorneys from Perkins Coie and the American Civil Liberties Union. Of the total amount awarded to the foundation over the three years, $230,000 was initiated by Babeu or one of his employees, the audit found. In fact, Lambs constituents seem to love him: He was unopposed when he ran for reelection last fall and won another four-year term with 97 percent of the vote. and help keep the future of New Times, Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our. 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. Phoenix's independent source of By 2016, he had moved to Pinal County and decided to seek the sheriffs job, running as a Republican and, in his words, a constitutional conservative; he made a point of opposing abortion rights in his campaign, but he ran without the same cowboy image he has today. Reveles hoped Lamb would not turn out to be another Arpaio or Babeu. 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. Copyright 2023 KJZZ/Rio Salado College/MCCCD. Paul Babeu was a 2016 Republican candidate who sought election to the U.S. House to represent the 1st Congressional District of Arizona. "Jose came to our firm because he felt he was being intimidated, and he was in fear for his life," Weiss-Riner says. Babeu was tapping RICO funds to pay for Sheriff's Office travel as early as 2011. . 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. 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. Join the New Times community and help support Romney Campaign Press Release - Mitt Romney Announces Support of