Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux and Tulare County District Attorney Tim Ward have both condemned Vice President Kamala Harris for using their images in a campaign ad without permission. The ad, which promotes Harris’s record as a “border state prosecutor,” features footage from a 2014 event in California’s Central Valley, where Harris spoke about a major drug bust. Boudreaux and Ward argue that the ad is misleading and does not accurately represent Harris’s record.
In a statement issued by the sheriff’s office, Boudreaux made it clear that he does not endorse Harris for president. “I do not support her,” Boudreaux said, emphasizing that his image was used without his consent. He criticized the ad for presenting a false narrative, particularly Harris’s claims of being tough on crime and border security. Boudreaux accused Harris of undercutting local law enforcement efforts during her time as Attorney General by defunding and dismantling critical task forces.
Ward, who also appeared in the ad, echoed Boudreaux’s concerns. He expressed frustration that Harris’s campaign did not notify them about the use of their images and questioned the accuracy of her portrayal as a border security advocate. “The hypocrisy knows no bounds,” Ward said, adding that Harris’s actions during her tenure as Attorney General were detrimental to law enforcement in California.
Boudreaux, who is the current president of the California State Sheriffs’ Association, reiterated his support for former President Donald Trump. He stated that Trump, not Harris, is the true champion of law enforcement and criminal justice, and that Harris’s ad is an attempt to rewrite history.
The controversy has sparked a broader conversation about the use of images in political ads and the importance of obtaining consent from those depicted. Both Boudreaux and Ward have made it clear that they will continue to speak out against what they see as the misrepresentation of their work by Harris’s campaign.
