PHOENIX (CBS5) -
Attorney General Tom Horne has chosen Solicitor General Dave Cole to head up an investigation into abuse of power allegations against Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu.
Horne recused himself from the investigation requested by Babeu, his political ally to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.
Last week, Babeu faced public allegations that he threatened his Mexican-National former boyfriend with deportation and ruination if the boyfriend disclosed their intimate relationship.
The sitting sheriff is running in Arizona's 4th Congressional District in the Republican primary as a conservative and tough on border issues platform.
Babeu has asked the Attorney General's office to do a comprehensive investigation that would include looking into the allegations against him as well as Babeu's accusations that he is the victim of crimes like computer hacking and identity theft perpetrated by his ex-lover.
A separate investigation into the same accusations has been requested by the Pinal County Attorney. Jim Walsh, who represents Babeu and his department in an official capacity, referred the matter to the Arizona Prosecuting Attorney's Advisory council's Public integrity Task Force.
The task force was created to provide a forum to which elected prosecuting attorneys could refer and request review of allegations of breach of public trust by elected public officials. This task force was created to ensure an impartial, decision making process.
There is a southern and northern subcommittee of the task force, and this issue will be taken up by the southern task force lead by Pima County Attorney Barbara LeWall.
LeWall said she got a call from Walsh on Wednesday afternoon saying the formal request was on its way in letter form.
LeWall said before anything takes place she has asked her legal experts to determine if the subcommittee is a public body and subject to open meeting laws. Once that is determined she will post an agenda, convene a meeting and the committee will determine whether they will honor the request by Walsh to conduct an inquiry.
Copyright 2012 KPHO (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.
All
content ©Copyright 2000 - 2012, KPHO, Phoenix, AZ.
(A Meredith Corporation Station) and WorldNow. All rights
reserved.
