Posted on 01/08/2010 11:24:51 AM PST by yoe
Two officials said Thursday night they have been subpoenaed to answer questions next week before a federal grand jury about a high-profile Arizona sheriff who gained attention for aggressively cracking down on illegal immigration.
In statements read by a county spokesman, Maricopa County Manager David Smith and Deputy County Manager Sandi Wilson said they met with a federal prosecutor to discuss the case and will testify Wednesday.
Wilson said the general subject of the inquiry was abuses by Sheriff Joe Arpaio's office. Neither Wilson nor Smith offered specifics, said county spokesman Richard de Uriarte, who spoke with the two officials Thursday night.
Arpaio is widely known for tough jail policies and pushing the bounds on local immigration efforts. He has led a dozen crime and immigration sweeps, some in heavily Latino areas.
Critics allege that some of Arpaio's deputies racially profiled people during immigration sweeps. But Arpaio maintains that people pulled over in the sweeps were approached because deputies had probable cause to believe they had committed crimes.
Sheriff's spokesman Brian Lee said Arpaio was declining to comment on reports of the investigation. "He has stated that we will conduct business as usual," Lee said.
Sandy Raynor, a spokeswoman for the U.S attorney's office in Phoenix, said she couldn't confirm or deny a grand jury investigation.
Arpaio and an ally are embroiled in nasty legal disputes with county officials and judges. Two county supervisors and one county judge have been criminally charged in investigations by Arpaio and County Attorney Andrew Thomas.
Last month, Arpaio and Thomas filed a federal racketeering lawsuit against a group of county administrators, judges and attorneys, accusing them of participating in a conspiracy to hinder an investigation into a $341 million court building under construction in Phoenix and the investigation of Supervisor Don Stapley.
He was told in March that his office is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice over allegations of discrimination and unconstitutional searches and seizures. Arpaio had said he believed the investigation was spurred by his immigration efforts.
Last year, Arpaio was stripped of some of his special authority to make federal immigration arrests, though he retains some federal power that allows his jail officers to speed up deportations.
A half-day after his powers were limited, he launched a crime and immigration sweep and has since continued his enforcement of state laws banning immigrant smuggling and prohibiting businesses from knowingly hiring illegal immigrants.
Pick up your phones Freepers and tell your congressmen and senators that Holder is out of line....no matter that this is happening in Phoenix, it is on orders from Washington! Take action and show your outrage at this trumped up Grand Jury and their willingness to lay down for Obama regardless of the law and constitution.
We need a Federal Grand Jury to investigate Holder.
Arpaio being indicted, might not be such a bad thing. I’d like to see them prove he’s doing something wrong by upholding the law.
What you’d soon find out, is that most of the nation thinks he’s a great guy, and the idiots in Washington are the ones that should be indicted.
All to true, but won't keep him from getting convicted. The long Knives are out, and I see little hope of escape for our Republic. We have switched from a Constitutional Republic to a parliamentary form of government and few have even noticed.
Now, add Universal Voter Registration in the mix and we have the makings of a bloodless coup.
Now, add Universal Voter Registration in the mix and we have the makings of a bloodless coup.
You hit the nail on the head. There is little time left to rid these communists from a complete takeover of America. Simple letters, email, phone calls are not going to do anything. Unless we find a method of systematically removing them right up to King Obama, we are doomed to a civil war.
Yes, we’re in agreement on that. Perhaps the worst part would be that Sheriff Joe would be forced to step down, before guilt or innocence was determined.
The damage would be done. No need for a fair trial at all.
We have become a banana republic. Political opponents are “investigated” and political allies (New Black Panther Party) walk around with get out of jail free cards.
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