Department Of Justice Gives Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio Deadline To Comply With Investigation

[Tx4obama]

Source: The AP (via HuffPo)

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department on Tuesday notified an Arizona sheriff's office known for its efforts against illegal immigrants that it has refused to cooperate with a civil rights investigation, is not in compliance with federal law and the department is threatening to sue.

Since March 2009, the U.S. Justice Department has been investigating Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's office in Phoenix for alleged discrimination and for unconstitutional searches and seizures. Arpaio says the inquiry is focused on his immigration efforts.

In a letter, assistant attorney general Thomas Perez gave the sheriff's office until Aug. 17 to turn over documents first requested last year in what the department calls an inquiry into claims of discrimination based on national origin.

Arpaio and his legal counsel said a year ago that the sheriff's office would not cooperate with the inquiry.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/03/department-of-justice-giv_n_669311.html

[sharp_stick]

1. He's been stonewalling the DOJ

for ages, I think a stint wearing pink underwear in his little tent city jail would do him good... Well it wouldn't do him good, he probably wouldn't make it past breakfast but it would do wonders for Maricopa county.

[arcane1]

5. My thoughts EXACTLY!!!!

:toast:

[frebrd]

2. Good!

It's about time someone leaned on that bully!

[Donnachaidh]

3. An Arpaio perp walk would be PURTY, now wouldn't it?

THAT would be worth the effort. :evilgrin:

[tinymontgomery]

4. If I didn't reply

I'd have the fbi at my door dragging me away.

[Froward69]

7. Damn straight...

Just as if you live in Maricopa county and Question the sheriff... they would raid you THAT NIGHT.

It has been done.

[damntexdem]

6. And if he doesn't comply, are they going to slap his wrists?

Or send him to his room?

Actually, the latter might work if his room they sent him to were a cell in his jail.

[pinboy3niner]

15. It looks like they're serious and are prepared to go to court

From another report quoting the DOJ letter:

"MCSO's refusal to cooperate fully with the Division's investigation makes it an extreme outlier when compared with other recipients of federal financial assistance, which have uniformly recognized their obligation to cooperate with the Division's investigations of alleged discrimination," Perez wrote.

"Although we would prefer voluntary compliance in this case as well, we will not hesitate to commence litigation after Aug. 17, if MCSO continues to take the position that it need not cooperate with the Division's investigation."

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/08/03/20100803joe-arpaio-gets-deadline-civil-rights-case.html#ixzz0vaG2bYmh

[russspeakeasy]

8. I want him arrested and perp-walked by a Hispanic cop...

[KansDem]

11. Hell, I'd settle for an Irish cop!

[Alameda]

20. Me too....but any cop would do......and I want cuffs too!

[frylock]

9. or what?!

he'll be issued another deadline to comply.

[NICO9000]

14. You got that right, Fry man!

Nothing will happen to this thug. I'd bet money on it. I'd love to be wrong, but experience tells me I won't be.

:banghead:

[Better Believe It]

10. At some point the gov't should send in the troops to enforce civil rights law like during the 50's.

We can't let a right-wing racist sheriff trample over peoples human and civil rights in Arizona.

The government moved in with troops against racist politicians and cops in the south back in the 1960's to impose constitutional rights and should do so again.

[Tempest]

13. It should have happened the first time he refused to cooperate. n/t

[bluestateguy]

12. I'll put that date on my calendar

and look forward to seeing Fat Joe arrested by federal marshalls when he is in violation of the law.

[totodeinhere]

16. Don't hold your breath.

They are threatening to sue him, not arrest him. He could eventually be jailed for contempt of court, but that would be a long ways down the road. My guess is that fat Joe will cave before that happens.

[msanthrope]

18. Understand the advantage of contempt of court jailin'......

No trial. No jury. Indefinite detention as long as Joe refuses to comply, and the Federal Marshalls making sure the stuff is handed over.

[Winterblues]

17. What will DOJ do, send him a subpoena?

We have seen what Republicans think of subpoenas.. Democrats refuse to do any enforcement so Republicans feel they have complete license to do whatever they want and apparently they do.:shrug:

[pipoman]

19. A month ago I didn't have an opinion really of Maricopa County

SO, then a very good, completely legal, Hispanic family I know very well were belittled and mistreated by a Maricopa deputy simply because they are Hispanic and speak broken English. The father was handcuffed for an offense in the same class as jay walking, the mother was threatened with arrest for trying to give the officer documentation, and the 2 pre-teen kids were threatened with "juvenile jail" for trying to translate. Maricopa residents should be ashamed. Such a pathetic excuse for humans..