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The New Times cover story this week, “Joe Knows,” shows that Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio knew about — and was a driving force behind — corruption that has plagued his office for years.
See the article here.
Records show that Arpaio knew the MCSO was using money intended for jail upkeep to fund things like his infamous immigration sweeps and to pay deputies for his pet projects like witch hunts into other county officials.
The story also shows that Arpaio ordered the arrest of Maricopa County Supervisor Don Stapley — although, America’s self-proclaimed “toughest sheriff” now denies giving the order.
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Arpaio told the Arizona Republic in 2009 that he ordered the arrest:
Arpaio said detectives began investigating the most recent allegations in January and completed the investigation Sept. 11. Top investigators in the Sheriff’s Office reviewed the case last week.Arpaio said he made the decision to make an arrest late in the week, but Stapley was out of town.
Now that the heat is on, Arpaio spokeswoman Lisa Allen claims, “Arpaio doesn’t remember telling anybody that he ever ordered the arrest of Don Stapley.”
We want to know what you think: did Arpaio know about the corruption that has plagued his office?
Cast your vote below.
