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You are here: Home / Politics / Republican Stupidity / The Values Party

The Values Party

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Another rising star plummets back to earth:

Orange County Sheriff Michael S. Carona was once seen as a rising star in state Republican politics and had been mentioned as a possible candidate for lieutenant governor.

But the head of the nation’s fifth largest sheriff’s department has been indicted on federal corruption charges and is now fighting to save his career and stay out of prison.

Carona was expected to turn himself over to authorities Wednesday at the U.S. District Court in Santa Ana ahead of an afternoon arraignment, U.S. attorney spokesman Thom Mrozek said. The three-term sheriff faces seven counts, including conspiracy, mail fraud and witness tampering, according to a sweeping indictment unsealed a day earlier.

Also charged were Carona’s wife of 27 years, Deborah, and attorney Debra Victoria Hoffman, identified in court papers as his “longtime mistress.”

***

Two former assistant sheriffs, Donald Haidl and George Jaramillo, previously pleaded guilty to related charges as part of a deal with prosecutors. Jaramillo, who is currently serving a 12-month term on state charges, cooperated with federal investigators to bring the case against Carona, his attorney said.

If convicted on all counts, Carona could face a maximum sentence of 105 years in prison, plus thousands of dollars in fines.

105 years? I might be ready to vote for Republicans again by then. The rot runs deep and wide in the current GOP, and I am, quite frankly, astonished that Carona has not been tapped for a Bush administration Justice Department position. This is the kind of talent they seem to really appreciate.

Reader Interactions

34Comments

  2. 2.

    maxbaer (not the original)

    At least he didn’t have to worry about blurting out the wrong name while in the throes of passion. Very practical!

  3. 3.

    nightjar

    The Duke must be spinning in his grave over this.

    and I am, quite frankly, astonished that Carona has not been tapped for a Bush administration Justice Department position. This is the kind of talent they seem to really appreciate.

    I guess we can expect him to drop by the White House on his way to the Big House, to pickup his Medal of whatever.

  4. 4.

    Ninerdave

    I am, quite frankly, astonished that Carona has not been tapped for a Bush administration Justice Department position.

    No they need to pardon him first, they’re just waiting until he has to head to jail.

  6. 6.

    Buck

    I am, quite frankly, astonished that Carona has not been tapped for a Bush administration Justice Department position.

    Hold yer taters… Bush’s term ain’t up yet!

  8. 8.

    T&SPJ

    Where are the links? Is this a case of selective editing? Are you trying to smear an honorable member of the GOP? I can’t find something to back up what you’ve posted.

  10. 10.

    Ned Raggett

    I muttered this on my blog but I *really* want to see a YouTube of his appearance at the Crystal Cathedral where he talked about good Christian family values and all that. (He was a bit of a favored son there — be interesting to see what if anything they say at this Sunday’s service.)

  11. 11.

    Krista

    Also charged were Carona’s wife of 27 years, Deborah, and attorney Debra Victoria Hoffman, identified in court papers as his “longtime mistress.”

    Just think: In 2007, it almost looks kind of quaint and cute for a politician to be caught in an adulterous hetero affair.

  12. 12.

    r€nato

    Well, one corrupt GOP sheriff down, another one to go. I am talking about Maricopa County (AZ) Sheriff Joe Arpaio – yes, the ‘pink underwear/green baloney’ guy.

    Our local alternative weekly – yes, occasionally they do practice real journalism – is after him because it is quite curious how a guy who lives on a $78,000 public salary and a DEA pension, was able to purchase a 6,000 sq. ft. mansion in an exclusive community, as well as office buildings comprising about 10,000 sq. ft. of space in Scottsdale, all paid for with cash.

    That’s right, according to his campaign finance document filings, Joe Arpaio is a real estate mogul who has no debt, yet was able to purchase all of this property.

    Check out phoenixnewtimes.com for more, if interested.

  14. 14.

    Dr. Shrinker

    Also, note that Haidl is the father of that p.o.s. who, along with some friends, gang-raped an unconscious girl and videotaped it, then had a sleazy attorney try to get him off by claiming she was only “acting” as if she was passed out as they shoved pool cues, bottles, and lit cigarettes into her vagina and rectum.

    While the trial was still going on, he got popped for marijuana possession and having sex with an underage girl. In both cases, charges were either dropped or someone else took the fall for him.

    These people are scum. I hope they all do real time and get to be on the receiving end of some of that hot pool cue action…

  15. 15.

    T&SPJ

    r€nato Says:

    Buck… T was being sarcastic.

    Yes.

    And when you wear pink underwear and/or wrap the manhood with baloney, you can do anything you damn well please. Don’t smear me by linking to stuff.

  16. 16.

    T&SPJ

    Dr. Shrinker Says:

    Also, note that Haidl is the father of that p.o.s. who, along with some friends, gang-raped an unconscious girl and videotaped it, then had a sleazy attorney try to get him off by claiming she was only “acting” as if she was passed out as they shoved pool cues, bottles, and lit cigarettes into her vagina and rectum.

    While the trial was still going on, he got popped for marijuana possession and having sex with an underage girl. In both cases, charges were either dropped or someone else took the fall for him.

    These people are scum. I hope they all do real time and get to be on the receiving end of some of that hot pool cue action…

    Some details from the LA Times.

  19. 19.

    OxyCon

    Here’s a fresh story I just pulled from Democratic Underground, which doesn’t have a political slant…YET!
    But it really speaks to what has been going on in this country lately, mostly is Repub circles.
    Twenty pervs were just arrested in a sex sting at a highway rest stop. Nineteen of them were MARRIED men, the other was a Catholic Priest. One was a leader of a local Rotary club.

  20. 20.

    ConservativelyLiberal

    In the immortal words of Freddy Mercury:

    ‘Another one bites the dust.’

    Medals of Freedom for everyone! I love the observation that he did not have to worry about calling out the wrong name in the throes of passion, now that is one smart Repub! Just not smart enough…lol

    The smart Repubs are probably starting to figure out that the ‘family values’ line is not going to hold much water with the voters anymore. This shit is happening so often that we are not even able to finish ridiculing one scandal before another pops up. They are overwhelming us with this crap.

    You know, if this keeps up the Repubs ought to recast the party as one that represents crooks, cheaters, liars and closeted gays. Someone has to represent them!

  21. 21.

    Zifnab

    Twenty pervs were just arrested in a sex sting at a highway rest stop. Nineteen of them were MARRIED men, the other was a Catholic Priest. One was a leader of a local Rotary club.

    I can see how the big gear logo might confuse a few people into thinking they were walking into a dungeon club rather than a business club. I can’t imagine how nineteen women made such horrible choices.

  22. 22.

    KCinDC

    Bush may have missed out on this talent (for now at least), but I’m sure Giuliani is eager to pick the guy up for an important post in his administration.

  23. 23.

    Clutch414

    Wife–Deborah
    Lawyer/Longtime Mistres–Debra

    This is pure adultery genius at work. I mean, if your wife’s name is Deborah and you scream “Oh Debra!” when you…uh…you know…no one would suspect a thing.

  24. 24.

    Jake

    Nineteen of the 20 men charged are married, according to police. The priest was the exception.

    Nuh-uh, he’s married to God! Sorry, I don’t know why the clarification made me giggle.

    I can’t imagine how nineteen women made such horrible choices.

    What choice? Do you think these guys kissed their wives on the cheek before they set off for an evening romp? “Bye honey, I’m off to the glory hole!”

  26. 26.

    Ned Raggett

    Meantime, more fun notes from Moxley:

    Last year, I dubbed him “Calamity Mike” after we obtained an audio recording of him having sex with a department secretary while his temperamental wife (indicted too, can you believe?) and sweet son (too young to be committing felonies yet–we hope) sat feet away in another vehicle. Classy. I’ve been around long enough to know two things: Carona’s not 100 percent bad and he very well may someday enter a local fine dining establishment with his chest out and his nose up—winking, of course, at chicks who still dig his soiled uniform. Carona and wife Deborah—not Debra, his longtime mistress (indicted too, can you believe?)—hit the media circuit yesterday. It must have been painful, considering the depths of the sheriff’s hatred of the press. He told Christine Hanley at the Los Angeles Times, “I’m staying because I love the job and I do a good job.” Sure, Mikey. Looks fun. The wife—how can she reign superior over her tea group now?—played whiny victim by casting FBI and IRS agents as villains. Please, women. We should thank the Feds who worked on this case. Without you folks, Orange County would be lawless for the power players who run the place

  27. 27.

    Dreggas

    I just laugh whenever I hear the words “Orange County” and “Sheriff”. There’s not much else to say. I mean he’s a crook, it’s no surprise but then again I never crossed paths with any of OC’s “finest” so there could be things I am missing. I remember the Haidl thing and hadn’t heard much on carona until this. Now as for Arpaio. First I kinda like the pink underwear thing just because it does have an effect. However I may be moving to phoenix and looking at what he may or may not have done, after coming from OC I can only say SSDD.

  28. 28.

    gypsy howell

    Wife—Deborah
    Lawyer/Longtime Mistres—Debra

    This is pure adultery genius at work. I mean, if your wife’s name is Deborah and you scream “Oh Debra!” when you…uh…you know…no one would suspect a thing.

    I seem to recall that Vitter guy used the same ploy. Wife’s name is Wendy and his prostitute’s ‘nom de f*ck’ is Wendy too.

    I sense a pattern here…

  30. 30.

    HyperIon

    regarding a remark on a priest:

    Nuh-uh, he’s married to God!

    nuns are married to jesus and take vows of chastity.
    priests take a vow of celibacy…that is, to remain unmarried.
    i expect you were funning but these days, who knows.
    and anyway, the obvious hypocrisy of the nun/priest difference in vows is always important to keep in mind.

  31. 31.

    r€nato

    Dreggas, if you’re still reading… where in OC are you?

    if you do move to P-town, lemme know.

  32. 32.

    Dreggas

    r€nato Says:

    Dreggas, if you’re still reading… where in OC are you?

    if you do move to P-town, lemme know.

    currently I reside in Santa Ana. Come middle march I am, unless something drastic happens, moving to Az, Phoenix specifically.

  33. 33.

    jonas

    Let’s not forget the company Mr. Corona keeps. The OC sheriff’s office was just a wonderful group of guys. His asst. sheriff a few years back (and now flipped co-conspirator) was Don Haidl, whose charming son was recently convicted of participating in the gang rape of an unconscious teenage girl. Seriously, if you read the the stuff this guy is accused of it sounds like Boss Hogg in a (particularly) bad episode of the Dukes of Hazzard. Except serious. And ever-so-Republican Orange County kept re-electing this guy. Figures.

  34. 34.

    maxbaer (not the original)

    I lost track of which one this was, but does he get bonus points for having been slipped a gay-inducing drug?

    “Earlier this week, Curtis was insisting that, in the words of Larry Craig, “I am not gay.” Before that he had told police that his memory of the night in question was hazy and that he may have been slipped a drug that accounted for his behavior that did not comport well with his strong anti-gay voting record.”-From TPM

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