Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux is speaking out against Vice President Kamala Harris for using his image in a campaign ad without his consent. The ad, which portrays Harris as a tough-on-crime former Attorney General, features footage from a 2014 event in California’s Central Valley. Boudreaux, however, argues that the ad is “deceptive” and does not reflect the reality of Harris’s record.
The ad claims that Harris, as a “border state prosecutor,” was instrumental in taking down drug cartels and gang members. However, Boudreaux disputes this, stating that Harris’s tenure as Attorney General was marked by decisions that hindered law enforcement efforts. He accused Harris of defunding and closing task forces that were essential to combating crime in Southern California.
Boudreaux expressed his frustration in a statement, saying, “That ad is all smoke and mirrors. I do not support her.” He was particularly upset that Harris used images from the 2014 event, where local law enforcement had conducted a years-long investigation into a multi-national drug operation. According to Boudreaux, Harris’s involvement was minimal, and her claims of being a border security champion are unfounded.
Tulare County District Attorney Tim Ward, who also appeared in the ad, was equally critical. Ward pointed out that it would have been a “professional courtesy” for Harris’s campaign to notify them about the use of their images. He also questioned Harris’s credibility in touting her record as a prosecutor, given the challenges faced by law enforcement during her tenure.
Boudreaux, who has served in law enforcement for 37 years and is the current president of the California State Sheriffs’ Association, reaffirmed his support for former President Donald Trump. He stated that Trump, not Harris, is the true advocate for law enforcement and criminal justice.
