In Arizona’s 5th congressional district, Mark Lamb, who carries the endorsement of former President Trump, has emerged victorious in Tuesday’s primary election, overcoming claims of long-standing scandalous sexual conduct.
Lamb successfully turned back a challenge from Daniel Keenan, a homebuilder who ran a well-funded campaign, spending double the resources Lamb had at his disposal.
This political battle arose when the district’s current Republican representative, Andy Biggs, decided to pursue the governorship, leaving his seat up for grabs.
Amidst a backdrop of turbulence, Lamb, previously the Pinal County sheriff, faced a barrage of accusations, including claims of racially insensitive social media posts and allegations of sexual misconduct and misuse of authority.
Lamb has consistently refuted all allegations against him.
Along with his wife Janel, he has been accused of being ‘open with a close circle of friends about their sexual activity and partners’ and allegedly shared nude and provocative photos with others, per a report by the Arizona Republic.
The pair had five children, and are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Lamb even authored a book on ‘traditional values in a modern world.’
Lamb’s attorneys have described the claims as ‘false’ and ‘baseless and harmful.’ A campaign spokesman also described the allegations to the New York Times as ‘lies’ and slanderous claims that come ‘from long-discredited individuals.’
Former Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, pictured in 2022
Ex-Pinal County Sheriff Lamb, 53, and his wife Janel allegedly broke up their longtime friend’s marriage by embroiling them in their sordid swinging lifestyle
Jillian Stannard, a longtime friend of the couple, alleged that Lamb facilitated an affair between his wife and Stannard’s husband, Matt Hilsabeck, one of Lamb’s closest friends and the chairman of his campaign committee.
Stannard said the relationship led to the collapse of her marriage and claimed the couple involved them in a swinging circle.
Lamb has also been accused of exchanging flirtatious messages and explicit photos with several women, all of which he denies.
One woman said he sent intimate photos urging her to ‘think about that being you.’ Another, a Colorado law enforcement officer, alleged the pair discussed meeting for sex after connecting through his campaign’s social media.
She said Lamb told her: ‘I am totally okay with excessively flirty. Hahahah!! … You never have to worry about offending me.’
Former Arizona Supreme Court Justice Andrew Gould, now working on Lamb’s campaign, dismissed the claims earlier this year, saying the rumours had ‘circulated online for years’ and were ‘repeated without verification and often to only cause great reputational and political harm.’
A bombshell report on Lamb’s alleged private life stands in stark contrast to the conservative family man image he has portrayed in his political life
Lamb and his wife have made his time as sheriff central to their public image, and both have published political memoirs based on his time in law enforcement
The Lambs during a trip to President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago country club in Palm Beach, Florida
During Lamb’s reelection campaign for sheriff, opponents circulated flyers labeling him a ‘sexual predator’ and ‘pervert’ over similar accusations.
The Arizona Republic’s report also revisited allegations involving Tammy Peacock, who claimed she had a years-long affair with Lamb before her death in a 2021 car crash. Peacock alleged Lamb threatened legal action after she publicly discussed their relationship, which he has denied.
According to reported messages, Lamb wrote, ‘Please just no more posting… I will call DPS,’ referencing the Arizona Department of Public Safety, and warned her that sharing intimate material could violate Arizona’s revenge porn law.
In screenshots allegedly sent from Lamb’s phone, he is seen flexing his muscles and posing with his shirt off, as a woman responded, ‘Oh I want to taste your sweat’
Tammy Peacock alleged that she was in an extramarital affair with Lamb for years, before he allegedly tried to threaten her with revenge porn charges to silence her
Lamb has repeatedly denied he and his wife are swingers, telling the Phoenix New Times earlier this year that he is with ‘one woman’—his wife.
Lamb did not respond to a request for comment from the Daily Mail.
Lamb first gained national recognition during his time as Sheriff of Pinal County, Arizona, when his department was featured on A&E’s 60 Days In and Live PD.
In November, Lamb is expected to easily win the race and be elected to Congress. Arizona’s 5th congressional district is rated ‘solid Republican’ by the Cook Political Report with an R+10 partisan voter index.