Memo Accuses Sheriff Arpaio of Wrongdoing
Never mind Joe Arpaio’s amazingly xenophobic and illegal policing practices concerning immigrants: An internal memo in the Maricopa County’s sheriff’s office is alleging that “America’s Toughest Sheriff” helped conduct politically motivated investigations and surveilled Arpaio’s own campaign rivals. –JCL
Los Angeles Times:
Top officials in the office of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio used its anti-corruption unit to conduct politically motivated investigations, misled the public about a campaign fund that helped Arpaio win reelection and surveilled the Arizona lawman’s campaign rivals, according to an internal memo from a high-ranking officer.
The 63-page memo, first reported Thursday by the Arizona Republic, blames Arpaio’s longtime No. 2 man, Chief Deputy Dave Hendershott, for the alleged criminal wrongdoing.
It comes as a federal grand jury is examining whether Arpaio and allies in the local prosecutor’s office abused their power by investigating and prosecuting political foes. Arpaio’s department is also the subject of a separate federal civil rights investigation into whether it uses racial profiling while enforcing immigration laws.