Ex Ally Miller staffer admits to convoluted political blog scheme

A former staffer for Pima County Supervisor Ally Miller has admitted to repeated lies in an attempt to hide a political blog he had secretly started while working in her office.

On Monday, Timothy DesJarlais, 19, acknowledged he created the blog called the Arizona Daily Herald to report on local issues and used an old pseudonym Jim Falken to write because “no one would take anything seriously since I worked for (Miller).” Using the Falken name, DesJarlais now says he sent emails to county supervisors and supervisor candidates requesting comment on Miller’s proposed road improvement plan as part of the online news site.

During a Board of Supervisors meeting, DesJarlais says he accidentally posted pictures to the Herald site rather than Miller’s Facebook page as planned. Confronted about his link the blog the same day, the 19-year-old admitted to making a “fatal” mistake, by denying involvement and blaming John Dalton.

From there, DesJarlais compounded the lies with false statements to various media organizations.

He also filed a report with the FBI with his then-boss Miller, suggesting someone had assumed his online alter-ego, Jim Falken, in an attempt to disrupt Miller’s office and re-election campaign.

As late as last Friday, DesJarlais continued to stick to his story, buying the Arizona Daily Herald website, but failed to change information that traced the site back to him.

In the last few days, DesJarlais became resigned to the conclusion that the odds of maintaining the cover were against him.

In an email to Miller Monday DesJarlais said he “rebooted the site, buying it from myself, hoping that perhaps people would think there was no way I was originally behind it.”

“Such a plan seemed good in my head but of course backfired. Ultimately, after trying to deny my involvement, I knew I had no choice but to come forward and tell you the whole and full truth, and put myself at your mercy,” he wrote.

Three days earlier, DesJarlais called his former boss “paranoid” in an attempt to deflect attention from himself.

DesJarlais, a candidate for a seat on the Marana Unified School District board, won’t be getting any forgiveness from Miller in his rambling confession.

Miller says she stood by Desjarlais when he maintained he was not involved with the site, but now wants to see him prosecuted.

Pointing to a stack of public records requests in one of her offices, Miller said DesJarlais’ lies went too far, costing her office time and money as they tried to track down the various people her former staffer had created through a series of fake phone numbers and email addresses.

DesJarlais could be under investigation by several law enforcement agencies. Miller filed reports with both the FBI and the Tucson Police Department. The Pima County Sheriff’s Office and the Pima County Attorney’s Office also had been asked to look into the incident.

DesJarlais did not return a call seeking comment on Monday.