Arpaio and Thomas: We are being extorted

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and former Maricopa County Attorney Andy Thomas sent a three-page letter Monday to the mediator who will likely consider $46 million worth of claims filed against them (read: us).

Last week, the county Board of Supervisors hired nationally known mediator Kenneth Feinberg to sort out the various claims filed by Maricopa County public officials against Maricopa County's government (us again).

Thomas and Arpaio consider the appointment of Feinberg a way for county officials to do an end-run around the court system, ensuring a payday for their colleagues, cronies and co-workers. This, because it’ll potentially allow them to collect for their claimed damages without ever have to go to trial and testify.

“They intend, under the cover of mediation, to reward their friends, political supporters and colleagues with undeserved monetary payoffs for unmeritorious claims while sparing them the responsibility of proving their claims in a court of law where they would be subject to testimony under oath and the penalty of perjury,â€