Hyde-Smith campaigned with a sheriff who claimed that he didn't know a “goon squad” was operating under his nose. Officers under Sheriff Bailey's command tortured and sexually assaulted Black residents of Rankin County.
Sheriff Bailey also was accused of misusing his influence to spy on his girlfriend's phone and having inmates at the Rankin County jail do manual labor on his mother;'s farm where some claimed that they were unpaid.
Hyde-Smith Campaigned With Sheriff Bryan Bailey. According to American Journal News, “Sheriff Bryan Bailey oversaw a police department accused of brutal abuse, including torture and sexual assault. Now, he’s campaigning with Mississippi Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith. Hyde-Smith and Bailey appeared together at a March 7 political breakfast in Rankin County. The senator is currently running for a second term.” [American Journal News, 4/6/26]
Five Officers From The Rankin County Sheriff’s Office Entered A Home Without A Warrant And Tortured Two Black Men By Tasing Them, Beating Them And Forcing Sex Toys Down Their Throats. According to American Journal News, “In January 2023, five officers from the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office entered a home without a warrant and proceeded to torture the two men inside, both of whom were Black. The men were repeatedly tased, beaten with a wooden plank, and had a sex toy forced down their throats.” [American Journal News, 4/6/26]
All Five Officers Pled Guilty To Several Charges Including Committing A Hate Crime. American Journal News, “All five officers pleaded guilty to several charges filed against them, including committing a hate crime.” [American Journal News, 4/6/26]
Dozens Of Rankin County Residents Witnessed Or Had Been Victims Of Sexual Violence At The Hands Of Rankin County Police Officers. According to American Journal News, “The New York Times reported that dozens of Rankin County residents had either witnessed or been victims of similar police violence. Most of the alleged victims were poor or Black. One man said officers repeatedly shocked him with a taser before shoving a stick down his throat, causing him to vomit blood. Another man said officers dragged him from his bed in the middle of the night and threatened to sodomize him with a flashlight.” [American Journal News, 4/6/26]
The Group Of Offending Officers Allegedly Referred To Themselves As “The Goon Squad.” According to American Journal News, “The group of offending officers allegedly referred to themselves as ‘The Goon Squad.’” [American Journal News, 4/6/26]
Sheriff Bailey Claimed That He Had No Knowledge Of The Abuse Despite Residents claiming That They Reported The Brutality To His Office. According to American Journal News, “Bailey said he was stunned to learn of the abuse and had no prior knowledge of it, even though several residents said they reported the brutality directly to his office. ‘I have 240 employees, there’s no way I can be with them each and every day,’ he told The New York Times.” [American Journal News, 4/6/26]
Sheriff Bailey Was Accused Of Unlawfully Spying On His Girlfriend’s Phone And Local Officials Were Accused Of Covering Up The Investigation. According to American Journal News, “ In 2016, a local district attorney said Bailey unlawfully obtained a subpoena to spy on the phone and text message records of his ex-girlfriend. No charges were filed against him. Local officials were accused of covering up the investigation.” [American Journal News, 4/6/26]
Inmates At Rankin County Jail Accused Sheriff Bailey Of Having Them Do Manual Labor On His Mother's Chicken Ranch With Some Not Being Compensated At All. According to American Journal News, “ Last month, several inmates at the Rankin County jail said Bailey had them do manual labor on his mother’s chicken ranch. Some inmates said they were paid in cash or meals, while others said they weren’t compensated at all.” [American Journal News, 4/6/26]