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.
IAEA team inspects treated radioactive water release from Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant
Harry Styles and Niall Horan soak up the action at The Masters with the Love on Tour star watching 6
Texas A&M Commerce wide receiver Keith Miller III is found dead at 23 near the Dallas
Sarah Ferguson breaks her silence after being snubbed for a coronation invite by King Charles
RFK Jr says he loves his family ‘either way’ after relatives endorse Biden
On a wing and a prayer! Watch the nail
Nicole Brown's sister says she 'knows' OJ Simpson was guilty but has 'forgiven' him
Costco member spotted returning vintage item from 2002 under retailer's 'unlimited grace period'
Grant Shapps swerves questions on whether Britain could follow the US by banning Chinese
Netflix fans go wild over 'absolutely brilliant' new drama but are surprised by a shock cameo