While chatting with Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu today about border issues, we asked about his months-long investigation into allegations by Maricopa County deputy chief Frank Munnell.
As Valley Fever reported on February 3, the report had been completed and was expected to be released no later than today.
The situation has changed, Babeu confirms, and nothing will be released today.
Babeu says the investigators decided to interview one more person, and that he's still "working with lawyers" on the upcoming release. The delay means he can't say exactly when that report will come out. But he whetted our appetite by saying the results of the investigation would be "significant."
Pinal County sent a bill to Maricopa for $46,000 for the investigation, which was conducted by a private firm, not Babeu's detectives.
Meanwhile, the Arizona Republic reported today that David Hendershott, the subject of the investigation and the Munnell Memo, is being investigated by the IRS. The tax agency "confirmed that agents were looking into Hendershott's business ties with vendors who contract with the county. They are trying to answer numerous questions about his financial activities," the paper says. In case you missed it, the Repub also reported this week that Hendershott and Lisa Aubuchon, former County Attorney Andrew Thomas' lackey, filed a $36.5 million claim against the state. That's on top the millions they're already seeking from the county.
It's not just the former law officers who are seeking to soak county taxpayers: Retired Maricopa County Superior Court Judges Anna Baca and Barabara Mundell filed lawsuits in their pursuit of $9.5 million from the county, and county IT guru Stephen Wetzel filed a federal complaint agagainst Sheriff Joe Arpaio seeking punitive damages and other remedies.
