Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux has expressed outrage over the use of his image in a recent campaign ad by Kamala Harris, claiming that it was used without his permission. The ad, which touts Harris's border security efforts, has drawn criticism from Boudreaux, who insists that it misrepresents her record and his association with her.
Fox News reported that Boudreaux, along with District Attorney Tim Ward, has publicly condemned the ad, stressing that neither of them endorses Harris and recounting their negative experiences with her during her time as California Attorney General.
Boudreaux, who has served in the Tulare County Sheriff's Office for 37 years and is also the president of the California State Sheriffs’ Association, was particularly upset by the ad's portrayal of Harris's involvement in a years-long investigation into a multinational drug operation in the Central Valley.
The operation, which led to the arrest of eleven individuals, including kingpin Jose Magana, was highlighted in the video, which featured Boudreaux and other law enforcement officers during Harris's visit to the region in 2013.
Sheriff Boudreaux recalled that Harris's visit, which was the focus of the ad, was less about supporting local law enforcement and more about gaining political capital.
According to Boudreaux, Harris did not interact with local officials during her visit, choosing instead to hold a press conference and leave without acknowledging the efforts of those on the ground.
"I'm disgusted because, you know, she didn't shake hands. She didn't say hello. And she's taken credit for all this work that the locals did," Boudreaux said.
The sheriff further criticized Harris's portrayal as a tough-on-border-crime prosecutor, describing it as "smoke and mirrors."
He argued that during her tenure as Attorney General, Harris did little to address the issue of illegal border crossings, undermining the very task forces designed to combat such crimes.
Boudreaux's political action committee, Golden State Justice, also released a statement condemning Harris, accusing her of repeatedly defunding and shutting down task forces that were critical to protecting residents from cross-border crimes.
District Attorney Tim Ward, who also appeared in the ad, echoed Boudreaux's sentiments, calling the ad "disingenuous" and criticizing Harris for her actions as Attorney General.
Ward highlighted that Harris was in office during three significant tragedies in California, yet the ad attempts to paint her record in a positive light. "The hypocrisy knows no bounds," Ward stated.
Ward emphasized that neither he nor Boudreaux was contacted for permission to use their images in the ad, which both officials found disrespectful. "We're not hard people to find or to contact," Ward noted, adding that a simple courtesy call would have been appropriate.
Both officials made it clear that their images should not be interpreted as support for Harris in any capacity, whether for her current presidential campaign or during her tenure as Attorney General.
Boudreaux and Ward's criticisms of Harris go beyond the ad itself. They expressed frustration with Harris's overall approach to law enforcement during her time as Attorney General. Boudreaux specifically mentioned how Harris's policies led to job losses within the Department of Justice and weakened efforts to combat cross-border crimes.
"How can you go in and promote that you were this tight border person when all the troops are coming across the border, and you literally are eliminating all these task forces? I mean, that completely made us mad," Boudreaux said.
The sheriff's anger was further fueled by the ad's implication that Harris has strong support from local law enforcement leaders, which he categorically denied.
"When you see that advertisement, if you do a little research, you'll find that what she's touting goes completely against what was happening at the time," Boudreaux explained. He stressed that the ad's portrayal of Harris as a staunch defender of border security is misleading and does not align with the reality of her actions while in office.
In conclusion, Sheriff Mike Boudreaux and District Attorney Tim Ward have both strongly condemned the use of their images in Kamala Harris's recent campaign ad, accusing her of misrepresentation and hypocrisy.
The ad, which attempts to highlight Harris's border security efforts, has instead drawn criticism for its portrayal of her record and the implication of support from local law enforcement.
Both officials have made it clear that they do not endorse Harris and have expressed their frustration with her actions as California Attorney General, particularly regarding her handling of border security and law enforcement task forces.
