One more investigation. This time the charge involving unlawful electioneering by Team Babeu associates was justifiably requested by a Republican candidate for constable whose campaign is being railroaded by Babeu collaborators trafficking under false colors.
The latest revelation discloses an alliance reaching from the Sheriff’s office to a band of vigilantes scamming the public under lawful-sounding Southwest Border Sheriffs and Border Narcotics Intelligence. Shadowy individuals operating under these names have drawn stinging criticism from genuine border Sheriff Larry Dever who characterized both groups as “fraudulent.”
The brazen activities of these vigilantes have even taken place within a meeting of our county Board of Supervisors. A few months ago, obscuring his identity to the board but describing himself as an “investigator” during call to the public, the vigilante border activist lobbed a patently false and discredited accusation against Supervisor Pete Rios.
During his own remarks at the same board meeting, Sheriff Babeu illustrated his penchant for obfuscation by proffering a disclaimer that he did not know the so-called investigator.
Curiously, that same “investigator” was later seen by me as he was welcomed into the secured area of the PCSO by Babeu’s campaign manager Cheryl Chase. Since then numerous website photos have surfaced showing the border vigilante alongside Babeu and Chase. So much for Babeu’s now customary and empty disclaimer.
This latest unlawful electioneering investigation by the Gila County Attorney may not be able to report its clarifying findings before next week’s primary election.
Nonetheless it’s obvious that Babeu will cannibalize fellow Republicans who do not bow to his demands. Also clear is that the ongoing Babeu investigations and his demand for subservience from fellow Republicans together pose a major challenge to the future of the Pinal County Republican Party.
The Party is being led by a soiled politician who may very well be elected next week but indicted before the November election. Election of a non-Republican sheriff at that time could then be a forgone conclusion.
Conspiracy theorists can be forgiven for speculating that ongoing investigations are being delayed, thereby denying Republicans time to avoid a Babeu-caused November political implosion, bringing down the entire Team Babeu and its morally bankrupt structure.
Whatever the primary election results, what’s not speculation is that county taxpayers will continue paying large legal fees brought about by costly investigations precipitated by unprecedented politicization of law enforcement by the man who lusts being atop Pinal County’s governing body.
Pinal County’s taxpayers deserve better.
