Justice Dept. Sues Controversial Ariz. Sheriff (Arpaio)

[jenmito]

(AP) The U.S. Justice Department sued Sheriff Joe Arpaio on Thursday, saying the Arizona lawman refused for more than a year to turn over records in an investigation into allegations his department discriminates against Hispanics.

The lawsuit calls Arpaio and his office's defiance "unprecedented," and said the federal government has been trying since March 2009 to get officials to comply with its probe of alleged discrimination, unconstitutional searches and seizures, and having English-only policies in his jails that discriminates against people with limited English skills.

Arpaio had been given until Aug. 17 to hand over documents it first asked for 15 months ago.

Arpaio's attorney, Robert Driscoll, declined immediate comment on the lawsuit, saying he had just received it and hadn't yet conferred with his client.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/09/02/national/main6829620.shtml :thumbsup:

[jenmito]

1. Kick-wondering why at least 2 people unrec'ed this.

:eyes:

[msanthrope]

5. It doesn't fit into the Obama-bashing narrative that he's derelict in punishing crimes.

You see, why give credit to the President for going after crooks like Arpaio when you can scream about Bush, Cheney, and prosecutions that aren't going to happen in reality?

[Peacetrain]

2. K&R about time

what a little dictator

[jenmito]

3. Thanks. I agree...

he seems to get joy out of locking up "illegals" for SPORT.

[msanthrope]

4. Here it comes, Joe. Drip, Drip, Drip......n/t

[msanthrope]

6. Joe Arpaio is claiming he was "stabbed in the back" by Obama--

The sheriff said in a statement that during a meeting last week between with Justice Department officials his lawyers committed to cooperate, provide access to his staff and his jails.

"They smiled in our faces and then stabbed us in the back with this lawsuit," Arpaio said. "The Obama administration intended to sue us all along, no matter what we did to try to avert it."

Arizona officials have complained that illegal immigrants are contributing to a rise in crime and violence along the porous U.S. border with Mexico where drug traffickers and smugglers regularly cross.

However, preliminary FBI statistics show a drop in violent and property crimes in major cities in Arizona in 2009.


http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE68149A20100902

Joe, when they were patting you on the back, they were looking for the sweet spot.

[jenmito]

9. Yup. I saw him on CNN tonight saying something similar...

that he's been cooperating all along but the Obama admin. is going ahead anyway, that they're trying to hurt the people of Arizona.

[msanthrope]

7. Local story, with Arpaio's defiant press conference.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDTOBetPACM&feature=channel


Interestingly, Maricopa County is named, also, it's begun to dawn on them that they are going to lose money. As in, Federal funds.

[azmouse]

8. Arpaio makes me physically ill.

I hope they nail his ass to the wall and he leaves office in disgrace.

[Catshrink]

11. I wouldn't be surprised if he pulls a Ken Lay

He's going down, he knows it. The Feds are about to blow the cover on his little scam.

[Hepburn]

10. Hey, Jen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the OP and soooooooooo very nice to see ya! :hi: :hug:

How ya doin'?

[jenmito]

12. Hey, Hep!!!!!

It's so good to see you, too!!! :hi: :hug:

I'm doing well. My parents just left up here after visiting for 6 weeks from FL. It was great.