It is not in Perez's purview as head of the Civil Rights Division to bring criminal charges against Arpaio, but indictments of Arpaio and his henchmen are necessary for justice to be done.
Particularly since much of what Perez outlines in his letter is criminal.
It is illegal under federal statute for officials to deprive individuals of their constitutional rights "under the color of law." It also is illegal for two or more individuals to conspire to do this. There are criminal penalties for both offenses.
Is there any doubt that in retaliating against his critics, Arpaio has done just this? Not to mention the intentional discrimination, physical abuse, and targeting of those with brown skin?
Perez said the criminal probe of Arpaio is ongoing and that he couldn't speak to it.
My sources say the U.S. Attorney's Office has not been able to make the case against Arpaio criminally. In the past, it has been suggested that the whole matter is so political that the U.S. Attorney's Office, in the minds of those in the Obama administration, must wait until after the November 2012 election to act.
However, in the wake of the DOJ's latest move, there's chatter that this is part of a new "narrative" that Obama-ites wish to project.
That is, as they failed Latinos nationally on immigration reform and the DREAM Act, pursuing Arpaio for his racial-profiling ways will show Latinos that the president really is on their side, that he wants to box in Hispanics' Public Enemy Number One.
I couldn't care less what the motivation is; I just want to see Joe Arpaio get his.
The feds should flip his underlings to testify against him by charging them and threatening them with serious prison time. Do whatever it takes.
Because no matter how good a court-monitored consent decree might come out of either the DOJ's negotiations with the MCSO or the rulings in Melendres, there will be no justice until Arpaio and his henchmen are perp-walked.
Mrcasual8560, I agree with you 100%. I also believe Joe to be one of the very few with the "guts" to do the right thing. He's hated so much because he is not swayed by BULLSHI_! He's a man who has some common sense and unfoturnately that makes him different. What a sad world we live in now.
What a load, Joe and his men are doing what so many haven't the Balls to do, the only way you can find the ones who are here without permission is to check each one out since it's our brown brothers from south of the border in question, what would you have them do ? check oreintals instead? as for bad treatment , do't do anything to get yourself in jail
Sheriff Joe is doing what the people elected him to do.He will continue to be elected for as long as he wants the post.Obummer and Holder will make no difference, the people have spoken. (besides, they'll be gone next election anyway....Joe will still be here)
PS, send more copies of New Times, my dog needs to be paper trained.
Stephen, Great reporting. This narcissist, out of control county sheriff needs to be indicted and incarcerated. Period!
times are a chang in Az last year Joe was booed by 40 percent at the parade today it was 60 percent those that were for him sat silent only a very few clapped
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An administrative law judge ruled Tuesday that a Tucson school district's ethnic studies program violates state law, agreeing with the findings of Arizona's public schools chief.
This is not the final word, the Federal Appeals Court can and likely will overturn this ruling.
Arizona is like a centipede -- cut the head off (Pearce) and there are many legs still to be removed.
Mr. Lemons, We thank you for your courage to investigate and tell the truth most other reporters tend to ignore. Without you, the status quo would continue and you've opened it up wide for scrutiny making the "establishment" very nervous. People have had enough of Arizona's decades one-party rule = tyranny. Without getting the "good ole boys and their "women" out of office, nothing will change. The truth hurts the hypocrites among us.
Stephen Lemons is a terrible writer and should be prosecuted for defemation for his assertions targeting the MCSO that many other Sherriff depts face across the nation. Why is he isolating the MCSO? Why doesn't he do research to find out if similar incidents happen involving white people? He is blind and doesn't recognize that white people are not exempted from false imprisonment. He wants to jump on what sounds like a good story. Thats all these writers do anymore. Its sick.
You speak of yourself. You are a judgmental person who evidently thinks that it is justifiable to mistreat people because they are "here Illegally". Do you so foolishly think that he and his organization would treat you any different if you found yourself on the wrong side of the law?
Joe Arpaio is an opportunist, a true sociopath who has abused his position of power to promote himself. Perhaps with people such as yourself who seemingly support civil rights abuses as "justice" and the law this is well and good, but to the rest of the world, this man is an utter embarrassment. China laughs at the United States when we talk down at them about Civil Rights, yet allow this man to continue to kill people in his gulags.
If you would call the hundreds of millions of dollars wasted of OUR taxpayers funds in defending this fiend against civil judgements against him, as a good job, then it is you who is fast asleep.
Please cite at least one (1) specific assertion that you believe to be false, and explain how it deviates from the truth. Provide at least one (1) shred of evidence of your claim.
I am so tired of hearing about how the sheriff's department practices racial profiling. My skin is so white it's practically diaphanous and my eyes are blue. My hair is currently a light brown, its natural color, but when my civil rights were violated, apparently, by security at the airport, by the sheriff's department and by the Peoria Police Department over the last 12 years or so, my hair was either blond or red. Were these entities searching for the Irish? What about the Swedish? Who can I sue? And what attorney will represent me? If anything, I am discriminated against because my skin is so "white". By the way, the three times I was stopped, I was wearing Guess jeans or Levi's and driving a white Ford Taurus or silver BMW.
What the bigots do not realize, is the laws they want for those they hate, apply to them as well. ALL are at risk with rights taken away from one group. Arizona needs to teach Civics and History in it's schools. But then the "leaders" want ignorant masses they can "control".
In a state like AZ, the comments like the two below are predictable and laughable. Because here, the "business-minded" conservatives have completely lost touch with the image that we project nationally and internationally. And Maricopa County has become a larger and larger laughing stock since Arpaio's 1992 election as a one-term sheriff promising to get the politics out of MCSO.
Most of us in this county prefer strict enforcement of our laws. But treating those laws selectively, as Arpaio has done throughout his time as sheriff, isn't "strict enforcement." The accounting under his terms produced a hundred million dollars of misallocation and improper accounting... a shell game really. That alone would be enough to sink most politicians. But those charges surfaced just as so many others in the catalogue of Sheriff Joe's clown act were also coming to light.
He began his service to Maricopa County with all the well-known stunts that he's ridden ever since: tents, green bologna, strips, pink underwear and Old Yeller. He promised to save the county money, while he's built a literal empire. Ever drive by the jail complexes or downtown MCSO facilities? And on top of that, he's cost us tens of millions of dollars in lawsuits and settlements, twenty-five million alone in prisoner abuse cases. The list of malfeasance and incompetent leadership taking place while Sheriff Joe has essentially been grand-standing for the mouth-breathing right wing is far too long to list here.
I don't think that we can wait for charges to be filed or an election. We can't afford it. It's time for Sheriff Joe to go... by recall, if necessary.
John DNorth Phoenix
John D, thats nothing compared to other cities in the nation. Sheriff Joe is a great Sheriff and has done a great job. Even if he uses racial profinling to find people who are illegal because the records show that most illegals in AZ are hispanic. Thats the truth. not using that knowledge to your advantage is wasteful.
if we lose him to the radical left az. will be sorry .People in this country better watch what they wish for
All he is doing is what is needed, the governments wants to control every aspect of our everyday lives with regulations and policies they call it protecting or society. protect our society by protecting our boarders. We deployed 250,000 plus troops overseas to protect our oil, but we can't sent troops to protect our people who live in the 4 states that boarder Mexico. This doesn't make any sense what so ever the only logical explanation for this is that our government is in bed with these people who are killing American citizens and flooding our country with drugs. 2012 election can not come fast enough, I voted for Obama instead of Mc Cain I was conned just like the majority of young American you voted for the first time. Mc Cain at least acknowledges the seriousness to protect our boarders, can't say the same for Obama. Stand up for what is right, stand up for Sheriff Joe. By the way I am a liberal and African American.
I feel utterly baffled that anyone can feel that Sheriff Arpaio is acceptable as a law enforcement professional. After all that has come out, and more every day.
Just his treatment of pregnant women.Or his killing and maiming of people in his jails.Or his obvious blatant racial and ethnic discrimination.Or his bad police work.Or his huge tsunami of lawsuits – 20 times that typical of counties similar to Maricopa in size.Or his divisiveness - at least a third of our community regarding Sheriff Arpaio and his officers with fear, loathing and the utmost distrust while avoiding any contact to the extent at all possible. The Sheriff has the cooperation typical of a hostile occupying army.
Any one of those more than enough to remove him. Any one more than enough to cause a decent human being to resign. The job is too big for him and he lacks the right temperament.
By the way, June, who do you think is buying the drugs that come from Mexico? Not Mexicans, I can assure you.
To make a fire you first have to break a few sticks. Most of Sheriff Joes lawsuits come from left wing activist groups that feel "unjustly" treated.
Every week i get poked prodded and molested by Airport security during "routine" screening. I accept this due to actions of a select few that wanted to hurt our country 10 years ago. Our country had to take steps to keep the United States people protected just as the need to now.
If you don't think the flooding of illegal immigrants is a massive strain on this countries economy then you are truely ignoring the basic facts regarding annual monetary loss
See: http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/...
If Joe is removed from office realize that we will be WORSE than California due to the fact the immigrants pass through here on their way there.
2 cents given.
As you can see Washington has no clue of what the Illegal means or cares there to busy turning this country in to a 3 world dumping ground for Mexico and its Cartels to sell drugs our Judges do not care if the person is here legal or not they do what the parties tell them to.look at Europe and South America if you are caught there with no papers you in jail no rights just in jail If we do not stand up for SHERIFF Joe this state will be flooded with ILLegals and drug cartels fighting Police dept and them selves with guns our police dept. can't fight against We must support Joe and tell Washington either help us or stay out of the way.
Bill, I guess the three ghosts haven't visited you yet. Many Americans think there are more important issues than undocumented immigrants. Like respecting our Constitution.
Sheriff Arpaio doesn't show respect for or knowledge of the principles of American democracy, which do not include arresting political enemies.
At least a third of our community regard Sheriff Arpaio and his officers with fear, loathing and the utmost distrust while avoiding any contact to the extent at all possible. The Sheriff has the cooperation typical of a hostile occupying army.
And you know, what goes around, comes around. As one Latina put it:
"White people hate taking care of their elders, so in 20 years all these bigots are gonna be in nurs-ing homes getting cared for by who? The Latino children of the Latina mothers they persecuted, oppressed, harassed and raped. Better watch out white old man, I remember what you did to my mama! So it's in your interest to be humane to us because your grandkids are gonna forget about you. You know, estranged families, it's a white thing."
It seems that the" CORRUPT "justice department under ,racist holder, has double standards when it comes to the term" justice".What about fast and furrious that allowed guns to get into the hands of mexican cartels and the Murder of border patrol agent, Brian Terry, and many mexican nationals , a scheme concocted by loser obama with his" under the radar" anti gun scheme. Why is that any different .Anything to try to distract from deadbeat ,loser, obamas administrations corruption that seems to be conducted daily. Loser obama ,holder,clinton and any body else that was involved in "Fast and furrious" must be convicted for facilitating the deaths of Brian Terry and all those mexican nationals.This Joe Arpio thing is politically driven and they know it.
I see Blog has hit the Fast-Furious auto-reply button again, which has nothing to do with this article. Speaking of things that have nothing to do with the subject, did you notice that a Bush appointed Federal Judge on Friday found pretty much the same thing as the Department of Justice.
That's two branches of the Federal government telling us that Arpaio is too racist for America and too disrespectful of the Constitution and laws of the United States.
That only leaves one branch to go.
I am not really sure what to think on one hand his record here is not good, but now he is out get the birthcertificate/ SSN which is no doubt the reason for this little stunt by holder and his boss. Everything about this circus is sick and wrong but at least Joe is doing something to slow the socialist agenda being pushed. If you think things are going to be better here just look at North Korea, Cambodia with PolPot or Russia under stalin or any of the other failed socialist regimes around the world run by egomanical little tyrants. better yet ask the millions of dead that resulted from their regimes. Breadlines hunger lower standards of living corruption loss of rights ownership of anything. This time now with all the problems will be remembered as the good times considering the path we are on. Stand tall Joe America needs you
It might be more relevant to ask the socialist Canadians. You do know this investigation started more than three years ago, long before our Sheriff added birther nonsense to his repertoire.
You do know that the investigation was delayed about 18 months while Sheriff Arpaio refused to release documents to the DOJ, nor to permit access to the Maricopa County jails - all as required by law. What part of illegal do you suppose the Sheriff doesn't understand? The results of the investigation would have been released in early 2010 but for the Sheriff's illegal stone-walling.
You do know that a similar thing happened with the Civil Rights suit ruled on by a Bush appointed Federal Judge last Friday. Once again racial profiling and un-Constitutional behavior was found. This suit was filed in 2007, but was delayed a year and a half because - can you guess - the Sheriff shredded documents and deleted emails in spite of a the customary common sense court order to preserve the evidence. The Sheriff forget - imagine. These orders would also have been issued long before our Sheriff added birther nonsense to his repertoire.
The Sheriff is is a vindictive racist who has imbued his jails and police operations with a culture of unconstitutional discrimination and cruelty. He has no place in American law enforcement. He's a disgrace to our County, State and Country.
Your an idiot go back to your secluded nativist lil hole and wither!! You racist mOngers are toast!
Unfortunately, I don't think AARPio. He misspends a ton of money, drops the ball on so many sex crimes because he's too busy going after illegals rather than going after more serious criminals or pursuing more serious cases. He costs Maricopa County hundreds of thousands for defending him but some nutbags love him.
While I do not doubt that Mr. Arpaio has broken the law and trampled on people and principle as a matter of course, this kind of "reporting" is not "reporting". This....article...is stunning in that it sounds as tho an angry eleven year old grabbed a computer and had at it...
It is just sad that Arizona has literally no one to whom we can look to give us REAL, UNBIASED INFORMATION. Once upon a time in America, there used to be news reporters.........
Upon reading the article and then some of the comments posted here. The blatant ignorance oozing from some is why we as a people will never evolve and advance our way of thinking.
Simple fact, that until you see the picture as a whole and the truth behind the LIES sold to you so very easily by the PTB, you are destined to be lost and confused. I too was that angry once. Cause and effect. How much of our Government's interference causes our own internal strife??Those that blame the current administartion with such a ferocious outcry and not blame the entire entity as a whole, are a glaring reflection of the lack of intelligence surrounding us. Your inablity to look at things from all angles is frightening. How much of a grasp do we truly have of any of today's leaders. None!
Have you asked yourselves lately what laws or initiatives were you pleased with that Bush passed or rallied for?? How has your life or the World around you improved since any of your heroes have been the figureheads that you so strongly relate to? What has personally changed for you with each new cycle of wolves in sheeps clothing. What should change?
We have all been duped, the first step to change is to realize that you yourself have been included in the duping and be able to know yourself and how you truly stand on an issue and the principles surrounding it. Maybe the sky balls will release a payload and cleanse the Earth. Perhaps we will be given another chance, perhaps we won't.
Open your mind to intelligent application of thought to the issues before us, not the answers as told to you by your religion, friends, family and not by those who stand to benefit.
Is something bad because we are told it is bad or we decide from our own experiences/ opinions that something is bad?
We must regain the ideas and thoughts of that independent spirit. The live and let live approach that we all espouse to want to follow. Trust me, it is no longer being looked after by those who should be guarding it. It has been trounced upon by all who tout that they serve to protect it.
Sherrif Joe is one of a few law enforcement individuals who understands a simple fact: "illegal immigrant" = an individual who is not in the United States legally. Being that the "illegal immigrant" has broken our (and Barrack Hussien Obwama's) Federal Immigration Laws and entered the United States through illegal means, he / she is subject to a crime and as such, he / she is subject to deportation. Is that difficult to understand?
That issue doesn't give the Sheriff to stop anybody with brown skin for no other reason. Is that difficult to understand? You may not like it, but that's the way it works in America. The Department of Justice and the Federal District Court have both made that clear this week.
Problem is he was not just stopping undocumenteds he was stopping anybody that appeared to be hispanic. Plus making illegal arrests, and costing the county taxpayers millions in law suits. His department was suppose to be investigating sexual abuse cases, instead he and his department were busy chasing the news cameras, and the cases were never investigated. It is time for him to retire. The county is not his personnal fiefdom.
Why were they detained? Two words: Photo Opportunity. They obviously waited on all the Valley News to come out and see how many they were arresting . . . before releasing them.
Mr. Lemons, Great reporting. It's taken years of your dogged coverage to wake up the people that resulted in the ouster of former senator russell pearce and those who will follow.
Stephen Lemons, your full of crap. God bless Sheriff Joe. I dont care if they line the illegals up and shoot em. Get them out of Arizona and you got my vote. They bring drugs into our State, they are lying, theiving, scum. Our federal Government and justice system is a complete joke. We currently have the most corupt, dishonest, POS in American History, living in the White House. His administration is trying to give amnesty to millions of scumbags that pissed on our constitution and laws by invading this country illegally. In a just society, Obama and his administration would be strung up. We have a Government that is giving automatic weapons to the drug cartel and claiming Foul Play against the Sheriffs office.....Really????? The only people in Arizona that dont like Arpaio, are the criminals, illegals, and dirtbag polititions that dont do their job. Arpaio, you rock. Piss on the feds. Stand tall and do your job.
It's not the American way to line people up and shoot them for a civil violation. You may not like it, but in America we have laws with various penalties spelled out, processes like hearings, fair trails and other niceties. Maybe you'd be more comfortable in Wonderland.
Obama should be strung up and illegals are all scumbags huh? The doj investigation began on george w's watch,but that doesnt matter to you. So you think its ok to shoot someone for the for crossing a line that the "evil feds" created.you dont make sense,any man that thinks shooting poor people is the solution is a spineless pussy,at least neo nazis and the kkk admit theyre racists but alot of you racists on here got no balls,just admit that you want no more browns in the US,and no more blacks in the white house
Joe O, Stephen lemons is not what we would consider a journalist. I'll be the first to admit that once in a while I will read it as it is so outrageous I would compare it to the Enquirer. I'm not sure I agree with part where you would not care if they lined them up and shot them, we would lower ourselves to the same morals of the wetbacks. The area I live in there so many illegals everyone knows where the drop houses are and the drug houses are when they come back and forth from Mexico with their drugs. I don't why the police department does nothing yet the Sheriff is the only one that does his job and everyone complains. As far as the Justice Department what people don't realize is they came making their stuipd statement made all these accusations that are not true because they sure as hell didn't talk to any and Hispanics that I know of course they only talk to the Mexicans and their organizations here. The Justice Department has not from what I understand not given Bill Montgomery who has asked for complete and detailed investigation that the justice department claims to have done. If it was a fact that all these things are true why then hasn't the Justice Department placed sanctions or filed a lawsuit or filed charges.
JoeO you can say whatever the fuck you want,this is about Arpaio bunching in illegals with Mexican American citizens like Marty Atencio,but i'm sure you know that and dont care,brown skin is synonymous with illegal,Obama can find the cure for cancer and people like you will still sat he's the worse president ever,forget was happened on George Bush's watch right( Arpaios doj investigation and the bailout) fuckin AZ racists are such cowards cause they cant admit their real feelings and say they hate blacks and browns!
It is soo exhausting to hear peoples retort to Obamas poor presidency as "well its no better than bushes"
Wasn't his catch phrase "change" he was going to fix the problems and Change things for the better. So far he has bailed out NUMEROUS corrupt banks, put HAMP, HARP in place that pays the bank more money to forclose on your home than help you retain it (see: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12... )
or my favorite 535million solar company he backs goes bankrupt in a year (see: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/vide... )
Is this president any better than bush. No but he sure as hell isnt making much "positive" change in this country.
Obama handled BP oil spill about as well as Bush handled Katrina.
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