Thread: DOJ Lawsuit Against Arizona Sheriff Is Blatantly Political, Say Critics – OpEd

DOJ Lawsuit Against Arizona Sheriff Is Blatantly Political, Say Critics – OpEd

By: Jim Kouri
May 11, 2012

The U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday announced the intent of Attorney General Eric Holder and Assistant Attorney General for the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, Thomas Perez to file a civil suit against Maricopa County, Arizona, Sheriff Joe Arpaio for alleged racial profiling, according to the DOJ press office.

Holder had previously requested that Arpaio cooperate in the implementation of a court monitor inside Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office who would have the authority to clear the activities of the patrol officers and the sheriff’s deputies assigned to the county jail and detention facilities.

Arpaio categorically denies all of the profiling allegations and said he will never allow the Obama Administration to “call the shots in his department.”

DOJ officials stated that Arpaio’s refusal to agree to a court monitor ended those negotiations.

“I do not tolerate racist attitudes or behaviors. We at the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office do not foster a ‘culture of cruelty,’” Arpaio stated.

Many of Arpaio’s colleagues nationwide claim that this latest action by Holder and the DOJ is political in nature and an abuse of power by a supposedly federal law enforcement official.

“Ever since Eric Holder first became Attorney General, after hiding information about his own background during confirmation, he’s been harassing Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Now Holder is using the DOJ to attack someone he sees as a political threat to President Barack Obama,” said former New York police lieutenant Thomas Bruno.

Bruno referred to the “Cold Case Posse” investigating Obama’s birth records, Selective Service identification, and other records as “a likely motive for the DOJ lawsuit.” Sheriff Arpaio recently stated that he plans to hold a news conference to reveal more information about his investigation into Obama’s eligibility to serve as President and Commander in Chief.

In addition, Arpaio claims he’s been denied access to the evidence that the DOJ prosecutors possess that they say proves he violated the civil rights of illegal aliens

The DOJ’s notice of intent to sue was sent on Thursday by Assistant Attorney General Thomas Perez, the director of the civil rights division. According to several sources, Perez has a background in championing left-wing causes including advocating for illegal aliens.

“Today, the Department of Justice did something it has done only once before in the 18-year history of our civil police reform work; we filed a contested lawsuit to stop discriminatory and unconstitutional law enforcement practices,” said Perez.

Just as the DOJ was notifying Arpaio of its intent to sue, the sheriff released a new report documenting how his office has handled the issues raised by the DOJ.

“These concerns are fueled by an unfortunate use of language that compounds rather than describes the problem. Terms like ‘culture of cruelty’ and ‘racist’ are tossed about in headlines and sound bites, while information to support these claims is not offered or communicated through the mainstream media,” Arpaio stated.

“This Justice Department is out of control,” said former police sergeant and intelligence officer Donald McRae. “Basically, they are the Obama Administration’s goon squad and believe in selective prosecution based on politics.”

Arpaio is no stranger to federal law enforcement having served as a federal police official with agencies such as the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), therefore he’s no stranger to Beltway political culture, McRae noted.

Meanwhile, Sheriff Arpaio says has established probable cause in his ongoing investigation that Barack Obama’s published birth certificate and Selective Service registration forms are forgeries.
DOJ Lawsuit Against Arizona Sheriff Is Blatantly Political, Say Critics - OpEd

Uncut: DOJ Announce Lawsuit Against Sheriff Arpaio, 5-10-12. (Pt 1) .



Published on May 10, 2012 by Humanleague002
This is the entire press conference of the Department of Justice's historic announcement of the lawsuit against Maricopa County, The Sheriff's Office and Joe Arpaio himself. I wanted this as unedited as possible because so many people have suffered and worked hard for this day that they all deserve to see this without filter or bias. It was recorded May 10,2012 at the Department of Justice's office in Phoenix Arizona. Any editing is for length. Friends will tell me it's too long but I believe everyone should have the opportunity to witness the whole thing.

This complaint was filed after a thorough and independent investigation into MCSO's policies and practices. DOJ attorneys, investigators and experts conducted interviews with over 400 people, including 75 current and former MCSO supervisors and deputies. They also interviewed 150 former and current MCSO inmates. While the DOJ seeks no financial restitution, it could and probably will yank all federal monies that go to MCSO unless Arpaio cooperates. While most in the media are claiming this could drag on for years, the DOJ does mention the possibility of joining in the current Melendres vs. Arpaio lawsuit which is scheduled for trial in July. http://www.aclu.org/immigrants-rights/lawsuit-charging-sheriff-arpaio-illegal...

DOJ Answers Questions on Arpaio Lawsuit (Pt.2)



Published on May 11, 2012 by Humanleague002
This Q & A with Assistant Attorney General Thomas Perez and local media is as historical as the lawsuit against Arpaio. Perez takes on all of Arpaio's allegations that this is political and offers facts and figures that Arpaio, Bill Montgomery and Arpaio's Attorneys also have but prefer hiding from the media and the public. Only once in the history of the Department's civil rights devision has anything come close and that was settled.

Compare this to what Arpaio is telling the media and there is no question Arpaio's ego and spite will force the Federal Government to withhold all federal money to Maricopa County. Why is Arpaio so afraid of an independent monitor? I could list several.

Perez explains how County government agrees to certain terms when they are given federal money. Maricopa County needs that money more than they need Arpaio.

Perez also explains the very real possibility of the DOJ joining in the current Melendres vs. Arpaio lawsuit which is scheduled for trial July 18 and 19. Arpaio has already been caught destroying evidence in that lawsuit and indications are that this could be interesting as this case also started way before Obama and it is Arpaio that dragged it out this long and its not a case brought by the DOJ.