AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Gov. Janet Mills plans to act within “a reasonable amount of time” on whether to remove a sheriff accused of improprieties following the completion of two days of hearings Wednesday, a spokesperson said.
Former Supreme Judicial Court Justice Donald Alexander, who presided over the sessions Monday and Wednesday, will make a recommendation whether Oxford County Sheriff Christopher Wainwright should be fired, but the final decision lies with the governor.
Wainwright has been accused of urging a deputy to go easy on an acquaintance cited for a traffic violation, letting two school resource officers carry guns even though they lacked the necessary certifications and transferring dozens of guns from an evidence locker to a dealer for sale without proper notification or documentation.
The sheriff, who was was elected in 2018 and reelected in 2022, said he believed he had the authority to sell the guns and did not benefit from the transaction. He also said that he was not involved in the hiring of the school resource officers in 2018, when he was chief deputy, and that he made a mistake in intervening in the traffic ticket.
Biden blames Trump for Florida's six
Core blimey: Bramley & butternut squash soup with gorgonzola cream
FIRST LOOK: As Laura Ashley relaunches, how does it stack up against its vintage heyday?
'He's almost like a LEAGUE TWO player': Roy Keane slams Erling Haaland for his display in City's 0
Pedo school cop shoots himself dead after high
Queen Camilla, Princess Anne and Sarah Ferguson all don traditional spring shade
Masterful meals: Masterchef 2010 champion Dhruv Baker's cherry and hazelnut chocolate roulade
ESTHER RANTZEN: I asked Mail readers to help me plan my funeral. Your choices
Jon Bon Jovi admits he 'hasn't been a saint' in his 35
WWII bomb found in garden in UK city taken out to sea
David Beckham broke major rule at wife Victoria's star
Masterful meals: Masterchef 2010 champion Dhruv Baker's cherry and hazelnut chocolate roulade