The relationship soured, and Orozco believes that Babeu sent DeRose after him. Can we start calling you senator? the man asked. The Show highlights the creative builders, makers and designers that are sharing their talents with Arizonans. Gaffney did not identify the other Sheriffs Office or the FBIs top level supervisor. The message: Sheriffs are here to protect your freedom including freedom from your own democratically elected government. 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.. 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. 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. On his person, Lamb has a 9mm Glock pistol, plus a long knife, a taser, handcuffs and extra ammunition, including a magazine with a Punisher skull on it. Im already hurt me . 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. Burghart says the distinction between the two groups might be more about style that Protect America Now is taking a slicker, more palatable approach, with a much better sense of PR than Mack and his crowd.. 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. 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. Help us fight for you and support local journalism.Subscribe to azcentral.com today. He takes a hardline approach on immigration, for example, but when it comes to the government telling people to get vaccinated or declaring the 2020 election legitimate he fashions himself as more of a vigilante resister, with a heavy dose of anti-government, sometimes militant rhetoric. In July, the American Civil Liberties Union and international law firm Perkins Coie jointly filed a lawsuitagainst the Pinal County Sheriffs Office and the Pinal County Attorneys Office. When their relationship soured, Orozco claimed Babeu had threatened to have him deported unless he signed a contract swearing him to secrecy. Pinal County Sheriffs Office spokeswoman Navideh Forghani said Friday that the sheriff already has complied with the demand and has turned over the records. Become a member to support the independent voice of Phoenix 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 deportation when the man refused to promise never to disclose their years-long relationship, the former boyfriend and his lawyer tell New Times. 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. Those who are classified as "at-will" employees do not. Initially, Lamb worked in pest control, with a focus on pigeons. Attorneys for Babeu, Voyles and his former chief of staff, Dwight Fujimoto, accused Volkmer of making false claims. 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. The spokesman confirmed that Babeu would continue to run for U.S. Pinal County is 5,400 square miles, roughly the size of Connecticut, and much of it is sand. "[10] Babeu was not named in any allegation during the investigation by the state. He has also. He says DeRose demanded the passwords to Babeu's websites and social-media accounts. As KJZZ's Dennis Lambert reports from Phoenix, Babeu will run for re-election as sheriff instead. Lamb, too, is a client; his PR representative, Vale, is employed by Sprouls strategy group. local news and culture, Monica Alonzo DeRose said gossip about Babeu would focus attention on Orozco, attention that could result in his deportation, Orozco says. 6:31PM. 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. That morning I came home, and I told my wife I was gonna be a cop, he concluded. Another patron of the diner walked by. State auditors found Babeu and Voyles failed to follow procedures and spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on unauthorized purchases. Congressional hopeful Paul Babeu briefly joined the growing list of Republicans nationally who renounced their support for Donald Trump's presidential campaign in a tweet that disappeared an. There was the waitress who told Lamb he needed to gain weight. Orozco claimed his statements are documented in copies of email and SMS correspondence between Orozco and Babeu. 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. How a city councilman from New England became a darling of Republicans nationwide. He said the county has implemented a new system of checks and balances that require multiple levels of approval, explanations of how recipients intend to use moneyand receipts documenting expenses. Thank you for your inquiry, as you know we cannot confirm or deny the existence of investigations, said FBI Special Agent Matthew Reinsmoen. 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. Records show Babeu spent more than $53,000 to send 25 people to a weeklong conference in St. Louis at which he received a national award. . Keating says her JP sibling had been living at the house Babeu is selling until recently, perhaps renting from the. When reached Tuesday, a spokesman declined to comment. The board is meeting Wednesday, and Babeu's request is on the agenda. [5], Babeu was awarded two Life Saving Medals in the performance of his duties as a patrolman in Chandler. Arizona police seized $200 million in personal property, but where did the money go? Lamb said he had no opinion on the AG's decision not to prosecuteBabeu and Voyles. including yourself & your family. Babeu was first elected as sheriff in 2008. In the weeks following the videos release, it was discovered Babeu also filed to run in the wrong congressional district and his financial disclosure forms were late. Ultimately, many residents of Pinal County, which voted 58 percent for Trump in 2020, align politically with Lamb. Senator Jon Kyl draft their "10-Point Border Security Plan". They contended the foundation operated as a pass-through for funds for Babeu and Voyles. Raymond Babeu was a longtime employee of the area's electric utility who was also active in local politics. 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. [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. Lamb, 49, has jurisdiction over only Arizona's third most populous county, a stretch of desert. 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. While some Pinal County residents say Lambs involvement in politics and entertainment has gone too far, the county voted overwhelmingly to reelect him last year. local news and culture. Doug Barrett for POLITICO, Lamb went through a variety of jobs, including running a paintball business in Utah that ultimately failed. The vast rural district, which includes Flagstaff, suburbs of Tucson and the Navajo Reservation, is one of the largest in the country. 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. 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. Babeu campaigned for the office of Pinal County Sheriff in 2008 and defeated Democratic incumbent Chris Vasquez, 54% to 46%. Get the latest updates in news, food, music and culture, and receive special offers direct to your inbox. Wont work. 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. Congress. (State records show, and Vale confirmed, that Lambs 2020 campaign provided a $10,000 loan to the group in August of last year.) Make a one-time donation today for as little as $1. and make legal threats opens a Pandora's box of ethics issues for any law enforcement person or any elected person. Once elected, Lamb promised he would focus on building relationships within the county. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. The source: Babeu's sister Lucy. 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. They are watching a movie . 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.". 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. Instead, his pro-sheriff messaging with media savvy and Trump-y politics thrown in the mix seems designed for a wider audience. Questions about the foundation also were raised in a 2015 federal lawsuit by attorneys from Perkins Coie and the American Civil Liberties Union. They contended the foundation operated as a pass-through for funds for Babeu and Voyles. Copyright 2023 KJZZ/Rio Salado College/MCCCD. 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. Former President Donald Trump, bottom right, also spoke at the event. [5], At age 17, while still in high school, Babeu campaigned against a proposed raise for North Adams, Massachusetts, City Council members. The decision comes months after state auditors found Babeu and Voyles mismanaged more than $2 million in so-called racketeering, or RICO,funds. 2023 www.azcentral.com. Join the New Times community and help support Privacy Policy | FCC Public File | Contest Rules 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. FBI probe of Babeu and former Pinal County Attorney Lando Voyles. Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu just won a primary for a competitive congressional seat in Arizona. Become a member to support the independent voice of Phoenix 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. Florence is the county seat. But his interpretation of the phrase generally implies opposition to whatever rules or laws he deems overly intrusive. If you're the victim of fraud, waste or abuse, reach him at robert.anglen@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8694. The groups website lists seven additional sheriffs at least five of whom have been accused of some form of misconduct as advisory committee members. 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. Babeu isa Republican who made border security a top issue in his two losing attempts to win a seat in Congress. 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. One day, in the mid-2000s, he went on a ride-along with a neighbor who worked in law enforcement and, armed with courage and a flashlight, Lamb says, he found a suspect they were after hiding in a trailer. [5][17], Babeu has been an outspoken critic of the federal government on the issue of illegal immigration. [31] On August 30, 2016, Babeu was declared the winner of the Republican primary. 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 back of Lambs black Chevy Silverado 2500 HD contains his workaday weaponry, including an AR-15 SBR. The FBI declined comment Wednesday. Last month, the Goldwater Institute, a conservative Arizona watchdog group, echoed concerns over Pinal Countys RICO spending and requested files from the Sheriff and County Attorney. Karns' scathing message -- addressed to 661 employees -- appears to be sparked by Babeu's request before the Board of Supervisors to reclassify command staff from "covered" employees to "at-will" workers. Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu today ended his bid for Congress. While he is gaining national attention, its not clear yet whether Lamb will become the law enforcement equivalent of, say, Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) or Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), but its plain that he has a similar commitment to Trumpism and desire for the spotlight, in Arizona and increasingly elsewhere. Voyles said any suggestion that he and Babeu did something unethical or illegal is unfounded.. He asked the auditor general to recommend the best way to use those funds. He led Barrett by just 145 votes. Requests are often limited to reimbursements and often require proof of expenses. [19], In late 2010, Babeu was asked by Maricopa County sheriff Joe Arpaio to investigate allegations of wrongdoing in Arapaio's department. 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. 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. 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. They said he accused them of criminal conduct. Lamb, too, is on the advisory committee, but hes also the groups most prominent public representative. Senator John McCain and U.S. Solve this simple math problem and enter the result. Court records show that problems at the school arose years before Babeu took over as headmaster. In this case, he's both.". and help keep the future of New Times, Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our. He was Pinal County's first Republican sheriff. When I asked Vale whether Lamb made a salary from the American Sheriff Network, he said Lamb was a partner of a Virginia LLC that produces the content but declined to give any other details. (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.) Photos by Doug Barrett/@400northcreative for Politico Magazine. Auditors said sheriff's employees traditionally were involved in the foundation's business, including serving on boards and handling accounting functions. More recently, he was a consultant on Kanye Wests quixotic 2020 presidential campaign. He was defeated in the general election by Democrat Tom O'Halleran. Later, rioters broke a window as they yelled out for Doug Ducey, the Republican governor who had certified Bidens victory in Arizona. 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. ABC15 has learned agents in the FBI . Another man walking by said, The sheriff is a good dude. Everyone gathered for a picture, just one more. Sheriff Paul Babeu of Pinal County Arizona has emerged as a Republican face for tougher US-Mexico border security. A local newspaper also accused him of having an affair with a woman who died over the summer in a car accident, but Lamb denies that he has been involved with any women outside his marriage. "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. Karns' scathing message . 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.
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