Posted on 08/10/2010 7:07:22 AM PDT by I_Publius
Thomas Perez |
U.S. Assistant Attorney General Thomas Perez warned attorneys for Sheriff Joe Arpaio, of the Maricopa County Sheriffs Office (MCSO) in Arizona, in a letter dated August 3, that unless Arpaio voluntarily cooperates by August 17 with an investigation by the Justice Departments civil rights division into allegations that Arpaios office has engaged in unlawful searches and seizures, discriminatory police conduct, and failure to provide basic services to individuals with limited English proficiency, the Justice Dept. will file a Title VI civil action to compel access to the requested documents, facilities and personnel.
GSN described Arpaios controversial tenure as sheriff in an article it published on August 3.
The letter from Perez reminds Arpaio that on March 25, 2009, the civil rights division supplied MCSO with its First Request for Documentation and Information and it has made several subsequent requests in writing and by telephone.
Perezs letter acknowledged that the Sheriffs office has provided his division with 11 pages of documents that it deemed partially responsive to three of the fifty-one requests in the First Request, and that the Sheriffs office had promised further information once it had completed installation and training on its new litigation support system.
However, the Perez letter continued, on May 29, 2009, counsel informed DOJ in writing that MCSO would not respond to any document requests from DOJ until appropriate assurances are made that DOJ was not improperly coordinating its investigation with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Arpaios lawyers said the following month that MCSO would not produce any documents or provide access to MCSO personnel, according to Perezs letter. In fact, Sheriff Arpaio held a press conference on July 7, 2009, at which he said, MCSO would not cooperate with the Divisions investigation, would not produce additional documents, and would not provide any access to MCSO facilities or personnel.
Nearing its conclusion, the Perez letter says, In order to avoid litigation, please provide a complete response to the First Request and an agreement to permit access to all pertinent MCSO facilities and personnel no later than August 17, 2010.
Although we would prefer voluntary compliance in this case as well, we will not hesitate to commence litigation after August 17, 2010, if MCSO continues to take the position that it need not cooperate with the Divisions investigation, wrote Perez.
According to an article by Channing Turner in the independent, Washington-based news site Main Justice, attorney Robert Driscoll, of Alston & Bird, LLP, who represents Arpaio, has described the Justice Departments threat to sue the Maricopa County Sheriffs Office as premature and has indicated that Arpaio will cooperate with certain elements of the probe.
But Driscoll also claimed that Arpaio had previously handed over thousands of documents in a lawsuit involving allegations that Arpaios deputies had racially profiled Hispanics, and that arguments contained in the Perez letter conflated the legal boundaries between two separate and ongoing investigations.
Why is this prosecutor playing this out within the press instead of behind close doors, unless it is political? And you can be sure obamma is behind all this!
We have your back.
The American People
The list, ping
I'm guessing you don't know Romley very well. I'm betting Romley hopes the feds come in and arrest Sheriff Joe.
yeah I kinda figured that but he is interim maybe looking for votes, after the right guy to do it resigned to run for AG...
“Islamic extremists or the Obama Administration”
But you repeat yourself.
“Islamic extremists or the Obama Administration”
But you repeat yourself.
“Islamic extremists or the Obama Administration”
But you repeat yourself.
There are a lot of DUTIES that go along with that power, as well,
like, protecting the county’s citizens AGAINST an overreaching federal agency.
Good point - three times.
Ping for later!
Sheriff Joe should file suit against to DOJ challenging their authority on the basis that “O” is not legally president and therefore cannot direct their actions. He should be able to find a “friendly” federal judge in AZ. to hear the case. He should be able to prove he has standing
And to Sahah Palin.
I would like to see him come out and slam BO’s admin for this disgraceful effort to get the hispanic vote. This needs to be said and repeated often!
He’s already mentioned that in interviews. But, you’re right, he needs to make specific announcement.
The tension around the country is palpable. I am in agreement that the only way to get the country back is to TAKE it back. And the Texas Rangers are the most powerful men in the country. Look it up.
(Shameless plug from the Lone Star State. Sorry)
Sheriff Arapaio will eat these guys alive. It’ll be fun to watch.
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