[25] Babeu came out as gay on February 18, 2012, saying that his sexual orientation was the only factual statement from the allegations. That morning I came home, and I told my wife I was gonna be a cop, he concluded. He was defeated in the general election by Democrat Tom O'Halleran. Former President Donald Trump, bottom right, also spoke at the event. Auditors said Babeu and Voyles also sent$683,406 to a nonprofit called the Arizona Public Safety Foundationmanaged by members of the sheriff's staff, a potential violation ofconflict-of-interest laws. 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. 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. 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. Im already hurt me . The county also enjoys relatively low levels of crime. 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. 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. Babeu was tapping RICO funds to pay for Sheriff's Office travel as early as 2011. 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. 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 . 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 Babeu says "drugs and stuff like that." Note: The following comments begin 1:00 into the clip. 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. Phoenix's independent source of Today its closer to 100, and a faint whisp of cloud floats in the sky, daring itself to cover the blazing sun. 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. He led Barrett by just 145 votes. [14] Babeu was reelected in 2012 with 53.3% of the votes, winning out over Democrat and independent candidates. The man's allegations were first published Friday in the Phoenix New Times, an alternative weekly magazine. Reveles hoped Lamb would not turn out to be another Arpaio or Babeu. Phoenix's independent source of The FBI is asking new questions about Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu and his offices use of seized criminal money. The spokesman confirmed that Babeu would continue to run for U.S. For questions about programming, membership or anything else about KJZZ, please visit kjzz.org/contact. Earlier in March, Gaffney also barred this reporter from entering a press conference held by Sheriff Babeu in a public building. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Article It could be one of the most competitive House seats in. 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. It was the month after the insurrection, with Joe Biden in the White House and Democrats in the majority in Congress, that Lamb announced the launch of Protect America Now, his new coalition of currently serving sheriffs Lamb calls them patriots with a stated mission of educating Americans about how our Sheriffs and the law enforcement community are standing for our Constitution and law and order. Its mostly a messaging operation: The group runs ads and has written letters to the Biden administration. The back of Lambs black Chevy Silverado 2500 HD contains his workaday weaponry, including an AR-15 SBR. On his person, Lamb has a 9mm Glock pistol, plus a long knife, a taser, handcuffs and extra ammunition. The groups website lists seven additional sheriffs at least five of whom have been accused of some form of misconduct as advisory committee members. Babeu was born on February 3, 1969, in North Adams, Massachusetts, to Raymond and Helen Babeu. Join the New Times community and help support But his interpretation of the phrase generally implies opposition to whatever rules or laws he deems overly intrusive. Join the New Times community and help support 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. 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. The lawsuit accused Babeu and Voyles of exploiting Arizona's forfeiture laws, which provide little to no oversight on spending, plaintiff's attorneys said. Doug Barrett for POLITICO, Lamb went through a variety of jobs, including running a paintball business in Utah that ultimately failed. Lamb, 49, has jurisdiction over only Arizona's third most populous county, a stretch of desert. | Join the New Times community and help support In 2001, Babeu ran for a rematch against Barrett, but lost again. local news and culture, Stephen Lemons ", A couple of minutes later, Babeu followed with: "And you say you have loved me? This should go without saying.". 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. 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. Sheriffs good with me, Lamb said, looking abashed, like any good politician should. 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. Phoenix's independent source of Join the New Times community and help support 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. 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. 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. Babeu and Voyles this month demanded an apology from Volkmer, saying he unfairly maligned them and subjected them to disparaging statements over the use of RICO funds. 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. They just happen to support President Trump a lot. When I asked about the roughly 140 law enforcement officers who had been injured or killed while on duty at the Capitol doing a job Lamb also professes to cherish he demurred, saying he hadnt been there and couldnt say what was or wasnt true. The new FBI interviews are the latest issue to hit Babeu as he attempts a second run for Congress. Attorneys for Babeu, Voyles and his former chief of staff, Dwight Fujimoto, accused Volkmer of making false claims. Lamb says he was always interested in guns but didnt plan for a law enforcement career. And on Facebook, Babeu is still Pinal County's top law dog. The source: Babeu's sister Lucy. January 8, 2013 A notice of claim -- a precursor to a lawsuit -- usually is filled with enough details to establish the basis for a lawsuit, and probably would reveal details about this fresh rift between Karns and Babeu, seemingly one-time allies. Were going to find out who is willing to die for freedom. He also makes direct appeals to citizens, an effort that looks more dangerous after former President Donald Trump riled up supporters on Jan. 6. 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. Privacy Policy | FCC Public File | Contest Rules He lost in the general election to Democrat Andrea F. Nuciforo, Jr. ", Antonio Bustamante, a criminal defense attorney and immigration activist, tells New Times that if the allegations against Babeu are true, "To use a position of authority. 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. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Doug Barrett for POLITICO. Babeu made that announcement after reports surfaced that he had tried to have a former boyfriend deported. [27], Babeu dropped his congressional bid on May 11, 2012; instead he sought re-election as sheriff. The board is meeting Wednesday, and Babeu's request is on the agenda. The district's incumbent representative, Democrat Ann Kirkpatrick, did not seek re-election as she instead ran for the U.S. local news and culture. 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. independent local journalism in Phoenix. Orozco shared text messages between him and Babeu with New Times. All of Lambs activities outside Pinal County raise the question of whether he is making money off this work. Babeu was tapping RICO funds to pay for Sheriff's Office travel as early as 2011. 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. ", She adds that federal immigration-enforcement agents have better things to do than "take care of Babeu's boyfriends. Lambs first law enforcement job was with the Salt River Police Department in neighboring Maricopa County beginning in 2006. "[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. He has also. 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. The pandemic has given Lamb, like much of the GOP, a new pet cause. This 6-month-long detailed search led to the termination of Arpaio's top two deputies. You brother will also be contacted. 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. 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. 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. 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. (Many job-safety rankings consider being a roofer more dangerous than being a police officer.). 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. See also: Babeu's Mexican Ex-Lover Says Sheriff's Attorney Threatened Him With Deportation 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. If you're the victim of fraud, waste or abuse, reach him at robert.anglen@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8694. 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. The lawsuit claimed the county agencies were misusing RICO funds and funneling money through the Arizona Public Safety Foundation. [3][4], Babeu holds an associate degree in law enforcement from the Arizona Law Enforcement Academy. Babeu retired in September 2010 after 20 years of service. Doug Barrett for POLITICO. February 2, 2017 Lamb, too, is a client; his PR representative, Vale, is employed by Sprouls strategy group. This summer, he made a short video saying he would not require, or ask, his staff to get vaccinated. I love America. Lamb won office the same year Sheriff Arpaio was defeated in Maricopa. The audit also found that $151,645 of the community outreachmonies awarded to the foundation went to unauthorized uses benefiting the County Attorney or Sheriff's Office programs. The message: Sheriffs are here to protect your freedom including freedom from your own democratically elected government. [1] In 1992, Babeu was elected to a four-year term as a Berkshire County, Massachusetts, commissioner. 2023 www.azcentral.com. Get the latest updates in news, food, music and culture, and receive special offers direct to your inbox. The spokesperson also took time to praise Lambs messaging skills, calling him a unicorn., Lamb stands in front of a memorial to honor fallen sheriffs in Pinal County. Orozco says Babeu told him that he loved him and was with him exclusively. He says lawyer Chris DeRose demanded he sign an agreement that he would never breathe a word about the affair. Babeu was tapping RICO funds to pay for Sheriff's Office travel as early as 2011. They exchanged more texts on September 6. About 1,000 Trump supporters had descended on the state Capitol; one group of them brought a guillotine. The relationship soured, and Orozco believes that Babeu sent DeRose after him. [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]. I dont think that Black Lives Matter is productive for the Blacks, Lamb also told me. 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. 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 Arizona Attorney General's Office said Wednesday it would not prosecute former Sheriff Paul Babeu and former County Attorney Lando Voyles for what it described as "eyebrow-raising". 5542%. and last updated 5:01 AM, Mar 30, 2016. He says he commented anonymously that the sheriff was not who people thought he was. | Doug Barrett for POLITICO. 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. In the open primary, Babeu ranked first but failed to reach the 50% threshold. 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. Instead, his pro-sheriff messaging with media savvy and Trump-y politics thrown in the mix seems designed for a wider audience. Lamb loves it. | Doug Barrett for POLITICO. The decision comes months after state auditors found Babeu and Voyles mismanaged more than $2 million in so-called racketeering, or RICO,funds. [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. Personal website. After the relationship ended, Orozco claims that Babeu threatened Orozco with deportation to guarantee his silence. Orozco admits that he lashed out on news websites featuring stories about Babeu. . According to sources with knowledge of the interviews, agents have asked about Sheriff Babeus use of a non-profit foundation run by some PCSO employees that received hundreds of thousands of dollars in funds that come from this seized criminal money. If hes re-elected as sheriff, Babeu says he plans to continue to battle drug trafficking in the county. Get the latest updates in news, food, music and culture, and receive special offers direct to your inbox. A group of kids gathered around Lambs truck for sheriff-branded stickers. [28] He was re-elected by a large margin on November 6, 2012. Gaffney points to Karns' past support of Babeu, including a letter he wrote recommending Babeu for the National Sheriff of the Year Award, and an e-mail commending Babeu for his leadership and stance on arming school administrators in response to the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre. No, no. They seemed unsurprised to see their sheriff talking to a reporter and flashing his TV-ready smile. [29], On August 31, 2012, the Arizona solicitor general exonerated Babeu after an investigation. 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.". 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. "But that didn't rise to the level of criminal activity.". [7], In 1997, he ran for mayor of North Adams against incumbent Democrat John Barrett III. [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. 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. 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. Auditors said the pair funneled money to community groups without proper oversight and sometimes without paperwork detailing how the money would be spent. Lamb chalked that up to an accountants error. There were middle-aged women with salon-styled hair hoping to take their picture with him. Of 43 groups that did provide one, documentation was incomplete, the audit found. They contended the foundation operated as a pass-through for funds for Babeu and Voyles. 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 supported the stop the steal campaign in Arizona and has expressed sympathy for the Jan. 6 rioters. Its not clear if the FBI has opened an official case. Another man walking by said, The sheriff is a good dude. Everyone gathered for a picture, just one more. [6], In 2002, he moved to Arizona to pursue a law enforcement career as a police officer for the city of Chandler, Arizona. [31] On August 30, 2016, Babeu was declared the winner of the Republican primary. 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. . 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." Help us fight for you and support local journalism.Subscribe to azcentral.com today. 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. In cases where money is distributed in advance, recipients must show it was used for the specific request. CLARIFICATION: This article has been updated to include the results of an into allegations made against Sheriff Paul Babeu. 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. 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. He also argues the mob that overtook the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 was more heavily policed than the Black Lives Matter movement. 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. Doug Ducey in 2017 signed a lawto increase oversight ofRICO expenditures and give people a better ability to challengeforfeiture laws. Now, with the public's memory of the scandal fading. Out of five Pinal County supervisors, only one, Serdy, a Republican, would comment on the record about Lamb, telling me over the phone, As long as the job is being done, then we support [his other work]. Lamb argues his outside activities help him bring in new recruits. Babeu isa Republican who made border security a top issue in his two losing attempts to win a seat in Congress. 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. 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. . true. The grand jury probe is a criminal investigation, according to a letterfrom Elizabeth Strange,the acting U.S. attorney for Arizona. Babeu heads a department of 700 and has worked to cut the budget, reorganize leadership, and reduce the response time from his department. One Instagram post from his account reads, No vaccine, no mask..I did test positive though for Americanitis! underneath a photo of Lamb leaning back on a bench and smiling. Questions about the foundation also were raised in a 2015 federal lawsuitby attorneys from Perkins Coie and the American Civil Liberties Union.
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