Mississippi Senator Campaigns with Sheriff Amid Abuse Allegations
Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi is campaigning alongside Sheriff Bryan Bailey, who is under scrutiny due to allegations of police brutality involving his department. The two appeared together at a political breakfast in Rankin County on March 7, as Hyde-Smith seeks re-election for a second term.
Earlier this year, a troubling incident involved five officers from the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office. In January, these officers unlawfully entered a residence and inflicted severe physical abuse on two Black men. This included using a wooden plank for beating, repeated taser shocks, and forcing a sex toy into their mouths. During the assault, a gun was forced into one man’s mouth, leading to an accidental discharge that shattered his jawbone. The officers reportedly used racial slurs throughout the incident. The officers have since pleaded guilty to various charges, including a hate crime.
Local reports indicate that this may not be an isolated incident. According to The New York Times, numerous residents of Rankin County, predominantly those who are poor or Black, have reported experiencing or witnessing similar acts of violence by the police. Accounts include a man being tasered repeatedly and forced to ingest a stick, and another being threatened with sodomy using a flashlight after being dragged from his bed.
The group of officers involved allegedly referred to themselves as “The Goon Squad.”
Sheriff Bailey has expressed shock at these allegations, claiming ignorance of the abuses despite reports being made to his office. He stated, “I have 240 employees, there’s no way I can be with them each and every day,” when interviewed by The New York Times.
Senator Hyde-Smith has not publicly commented on the January incident or subsequent legal proceedings. She has previously faced criticism for opposing police reform legislation and making racially insensitive remarks.
Sheriff Bailey has been involved in other controversies. In 2016, he was accused by a district attorney of improperly using a subpoena to access his ex-girlfriend’s communication records, although no charges were brought against him. Allegations have also surfaced regarding Bailey’s use of inmate labor for personal benefit, specifically on his mother’s chicken farm, where some inmates reported being paid in meals or cash, while others received no compensation. Additionally, he is accused of utilizing county resources for farm-related activities.
In the upcoming November elections, Hyde-Smith’s opponent will be Democrat Scott Colm, a district attorney known for his role in the 2024 prosecution of a county sheriff’s office involved in the sexual exploitation of inmates.
The post Hyde-Smith campaigns with sheriff linked to Rankin County abuse scandal appeared first on American Journal News.
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