In a bold declaration that's already stirring up heated discussions across social media platforms, Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones has openly stated his intention to defy orders from Ohio Governor Mike DeWine concerning the potential release of inmate Ayman Soliman. According to a recent social media post from the Butler County Sheriff's Office, Sheriff Jones made his stance clear during an interview with radio host Bill Cunningham on 700 WLW.
Not shying away from controversy, Sheriff Jones underscored his duty to uphold all laws and pointed out his long-standing commitment to the community over his six terms as an elected sheriff, as he mentioned in the same interview, "I am an elected Sheriff by the people of Butler County, chosen to serve six (6) terms. It is my sworn duty to protect this community and to uphold the law—including federal immigration law. I do not pick and choose which laws to enforce, I do not fear the Governor, I would fear compromising the safety of the citizens I serve," according to the Butler County Sheriff's Office. This remark comes in the wake of a petition championed by Soliman's supporters, who have collected over a thousand signatures from an array of community members, including faith leaders, friends, and neighbors, urging Governor DeWine to intervene on Soliman's behalf.
The petition, which was expected to be delivered to Governor DeWine at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, pleads for the use of gubernatorial power to put an end to what has been described as "cruelty toward a beloved resident of Cincinnati," according to the Butler County Sheriff's Office. The details of the charges or circumstances surrounding Soliman's detention have not been disclosed in the sheriff's post or the reported radio broadcast.
