Where Did Jan Brewer's Beheading Claim Come From?

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: Domestic Issues

Gov. Jan Brewer signs bill SB1070 dealing with illegal immigration during a news conference at the Arizona Department of Transportation in Phoenix on Friday, April 23, 2010.

(Credit: AP Photo/The Arizona Republic)

In a column released online today, the Washington Post's Dana Milbank noted that Arizona Republican governor Jan Brewer, a strong proponent of her state's controversial immigration bill, has claimed that Arizona's "law enforcement agencies have found bodies in the desert either buried or just lying out there that have been beheaded."

As Milbank noted, the Arizona Guardian checked that claim out and found no evidence of beheadings; Brewer's office did not respond to a request from the columnist for documentation for the beheading claim.

Hotsheet today asked the governor's office to offer evidence for the claim; like Milbank, we received no response. The governor is in Boston at the National Governors Association's annual summer meeting today; we will update this post if Brewer's office responds.

In his column, Milbank cast Brewer's claim as part of a misinformation campaign by the governor and Sen. John McCain to scare Arizonans and Americans into thinking violence from illegal immigration is worse than it actually is.

"Brewer's mindlessness about headlessness is just one of the immigration falsehoods being spread by Arizona politicians," he wrote. "Border violence on the rise? Phoenix becoming the world's No. 2 kidnapping capital? Illegal immigrants responsible for most police killings? The majority of those crossing the border are drug mules? All wrong."

He added: "Two months ago, the Arizona Republic published an exhaustive report that found that, according to statistics from the FBI and Arizona police agencies, crime in Arizona border towns has been 'essentially flat for the past decade.' For example, 'In 2000, there were 23 rapes, robberies and murders in Nogales, Ariz. Last year, despite nearly a decade of population growth, there were 19 such crimes.' The Pima County sheriff reported that 'the border has never been more secure.'"

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by RabbNexus October 16, 2010 10:29 PM EDT

This article appears to be disinformation. I am an Australian who has in general a liberal attitude to immigration and immigrants in general, however I recognise a nation's right and need to control its borders. As far as I can see, reading a selection of sources and just taking an interest in the subject to the extent of checking claims and counter claims, it appears very clear that there is a serious problem with the borders in certain areas and the major problem would seem to be drug related violence and other crimes due to the porous nature of the borders and the cross purposes being pursued by the federal government.

I think this article is one in an attempt by the thoroughly discredited and untrustworthy Zionist controlled media to serve its real masters at the expense of the public as usual.

In short, this article is disinformation.

Reply to this comment


by sbelwraith October 16, 2010 11:07 PM EDT: ya damnable aussie, mind your own business!

when any loonie like you starts talking about the "Zionist controlled media", i know your opinion isn't worth attention

why don't you just bugger off and go abuse the abos?


by HybridRogue October 16, 2010 9:16 PM EDT: http://www.azfamily.com/news/DHS-memo-Assassins-headed-to-Arizona-with-orders-to-kill-105069019.html

For an update on the seriousness of the situation at the border there is a local Arizona papers web article.

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by HybridRogue October 16, 2010 9:11 PM EDT: I have personally seen photos of the beheaded on a blog about the war on the boarder.

Anyone who doesn't undersatnd that it is s warzone at the borders of California, Mexico, and Texas, and that there is a media disinformation campaign on the subject is completely naive.

Jan Brewer's claim is factual.
I downloaded the photos but I have no way to post them here.

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by MurdochSucks July 12, 2010 1:51 PM EDT: This Republican skag will stop at nothing to divide and conquer. She's a nasty mess.; Reply to this comment


by Hakodarko July 12, 2010 12:42 PM EDT: Don't believe this selective "journalism" from Dana Milbank. It is so easy to cherry-pick information and create an inaccurate picture. Here is what the FBI says about crime in Arizona border regions.....2000-2008:
It IS down 20% in major cities. But, it is UP in towns and rural counties 39% and 45% respectively. Correct me if I am wrong Mr. Milbank, but until recently,we did not have regions of Arizona that were labeled UNSAFE for citizens to travel through. The posted signs make it clear that armed criminals control those areas, which is why law-abiding citizens are warned not to enter them. There is a real problem in the Arizona border regions...it is not fiction, or exaggeration. Nice try on the disinformation.; Reply to this comment


by midwest50 July 12, 2010 10:17 AM EDT: If the feds did their job states wouldn't need to start making laws to protect themselves. By January there'll be numerous other states with the same bill.

Instead of wasting our money filing suit against everyone who doesn't agree with him maybe Barry could enforce the existing federal laws. It is amazing to me that if the Prez doesn't like a law he just ignores it....; Reply to this comment


by formrusmcsgt July 12, 2010 9:55 AM EDT: by elliot019 July 11, 2010 9:59 AM EDT
It is ridiculous how easily Republicans will believe a lie if it conforms to their world view. They want the lie to be true so they can rationalize their anger.
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repub rhetoric resonates with the self-righteoius, xenophobes, and paranoid among us....; Reply to this comment


by formrusmcsgt July 12, 2010 8:49 AM EDT: Brewer's office did not respond to a request from the columnist for documentation for the beheading claim.
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'Nuff said.

Pure fabrication to rile up the bigots and xenophobes....; Reply to this comment

by Phxfire July 11, 2010 3:59 PM EDT

Brewer and the rest of the AZ leadership (Republicans, AZ is one of the MOST conservative states...bordering on facism) are a bunch of Anti-everything that is fair to ALL citizens. IF you're not one of the 'club' members, you have no First Amendment rights, etc. Opponents are not supposed to voice opposition, when they do every effort is made to silence them. Frivolous and false charges or lawsuits, arresting reporters or people in the audience are two favorites. There are no rights for anyone who doesn't agree with them, check it out for yourselves. Plus, this is the legislature that spends its time during various crisis making sure we have a state vegetable and that brocolli can't be disrespted, who make sure we have a state horse (debated during the worse of the budget negotiations). If you support them you really need to be more informed. False and misleading statements are their favorite responses. They really like to make things up. All this applies to arpiao and thomas, too. The state is bankrupt and they approve a law that IS unconstitutional, KNOWING there will be lawsuits, arpiao costs up millions each year, then files another lawsuit against his own party and bosses that will cost an additional million or so. They are all NUTS.

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by TruthfromMesaAZ July 11, 2010 7:10 PM EDT: It's true, and everyone who lives in Arizona knows this.

The journalists that were arrested were MICHAEL LACEY and JIM LARKIN of the Phoenix New Times. The corrupt tactic of silencing anyone who opposes or challenges you is so widespread in Arizona, it's staggering.

Think a judge could stop it? WRONG, they'll just attempt to intimidate the judges too, if you look up judges GARY DONAHOE, BARBARA MUNDELL, KENNETH FIELDS, and ANNA BACA, you'll see that the sheriff tried to charge them with hundreds of counts of conspiracy, racketeering, and misconduct, only to have those charges dismissed due to lack of evidence and the names of the judges cleared. The only crime that these judges committed was not doing what corrupt politicians wanted them to do. Republicans believed it was a CONSPIRACY that any judge would rule against them.

Another good expos? on this piece is REASONABLE DOUBT, the local journalists did a story on the widespread abuse of power and how politicians used illegal immigration to distract voters - the expos? was so good that the local journalists won a PULITZER PRIZE award for this. Check it out at pulitizer.org in the category of 2009 winners, listed as the East Valley Tribune.

Frankly, I'm glad this is getting national attention. They might have the nerve to arrest journalists here for exposing them, but let's see them try to arrest someone at the New York Times or CBS News. Let's see them try to arrest someone on the US Supreme Court for ruling against them.


by JamesAt17 July 11, 2010 2:03 PM EDT: "U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the largest investigative agency in the Department of Homeland Security, is responsible for enforcing federal immigration laws as part of its homeland security mission." - As everyone can see, they have failed their mission to protect the border states from illegal entry, and we would not be having this conversation. There are other intentions for having left the borders open. The National ID Card failed last time it was attempted, but not this next time. It will be pushed through by using this open border problem as an excuse. If you have an ID, you are a citizen. If you don't have an ID, out you go. The move toward the North American Union and the doing away with the borders between Mexico and Canada could be used by this open border policy. That in its self would do away with the Constitution, because a new one would have to be drawn up. (Can you imagine Obama and his minions drawing up our new constitution?) If the Constitution were done away with, so also would the right to keep Arms. Angering the American public to the point of civil unrest and that anger being expressed with guns may be another reason that the Second Amendment is done away with. I would like to be wrong about this being used for those reasons mentioned. If I am, then I am the fool. If these things are brought about by using this border problem, then all of you that are pro amnesty had better join with those that have told you so. Without your joining forces to stop the last few items on the agenda to world domination, it will happen. One more thing, when they think that their long awaited agenda is finally fulfilled, all hell is going to break out, and for sure, none of them will be safe, even if they hide themselves in their underground bunkers.; Reply to this comment