The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office refused to let ABC15 investigative reporter Dave Biscobing into a public press conference Tuesday held by Sheriff Paul Babeu.
PCSO Director of Administration Tim Gaffney and another employee were standing at the door of the Sheriff’s Office headquarters when Biscobing approached with a photographer. Gaffney said the photographer was welcome but Biscobing was not.
Watch the full clip of the interaction in the video above.
ABC15 believes the actions of Babeu’s office were an abuse of power; and attorneys said it’s a potential violation of the law. Journalists have a constitutional right to cover public officials, and ABC15 will continue to fight for access to get answers on important stories.
In late January, Biscobing launched a series of stories about Sheriff Babeu’s tenure running a therapeutic boarding school in Massachusetts. Experts said the school horrifically abused its students and even tortured them.
SPECIAL ABC15 INVESTIGATION: “ABUSING THE TRUTH”
The school was eventually forced to close after a state investigation.
Sheriff Babeu had previously denied having any “knowledge” of the abuse. But Biscobing obtained a home video showing Babeu praise the abusive practices in detail.
