DOJ to Sue Joe Arpaio if Ariz. Sheriff Doesn't Cooperate with Immigration Probe
In an unusual threat against a law enforcement leader, the U.S. Department of Justice has threatened to sue a controversial Arizona sheriff if he doesn’t cooperate with an ongoing civil rights investigation.
Although Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County is a folk hero to some, others contend that the 78-year-old lawman is cavalier about following the rules himself as he pursues pet causes. The current standoff concerns questions about whether Arpaio, through the 3,800-employee department he runs, may have discriminated against Latinos, according to the Washington Post.
“The sheriff’s office is cooperating fully with the grand jury investigation and has complete confidence that the inquiry will clear it of any wrongdoing,” says attorney Asheesh Agarwal, who represents Arpaio. “The office has always fulfilled its responsibilities truthfully, honorably, and in full compliance with state and federal law.”
Related coverage:
ABA Journal: “The Maricopa Courthouse War”
ABAJournal.com: “Maricopa Board to Hire Uber-Arbitrator for Claims Against Sheriff, Ex-County Attorney”
ABAJournal.com: “Phoenix-Area Sheriff to Defy ICE’s Rollback on His Immigration Enforcement Power”
