Joe Arpaio

Sheriff Joe Arpaio Hasn't Delivered On Cash He Promised Fellow Border Hawks

Nick R. Martin | February 8, 2012, 6:21AM

When Sheriff Joe Arpaio launched his own federal political action committee last year, he vowed to move beyond his role as just a national leader for immigration hardliners. He wanted to become one of their more serious sources of campaign cash.

But months after announcing the creation of Joe PAC, the Arizona sheriff's desire to become a major financial backer for the movement is far from reality. Instead, it has been consumed by his own bid for reelection.

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Joe Arpaio

Sheriff Joe Arpaio Agrees To Cooperate On Discrimination Probe

Ryan J. Reilly | February 7, 2012, 9:55AM

Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio

Updated Feb. 7 2:20PM

After claiming the allegations of civil rights violations by his Maricopa County Sheriff's Office were part of President Barack Obama's reelection bid, Sheriff Joe Arpaio's office said in a statement Monday that they had agreed to work together with the Justice Department to "develop a document that addresses any agreed upon improvements needed."

Both Arpaio and DOJ are "committed to avoiding unnecessary and expensive litigation by the creation of an enforceable agreement which will lead to sustainable reforms and positive results for all citizens of Maricopa County," according to a statement from the Sheriff's office.

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Joe Arpaio

DOJ To Sheriff Joe Arpaio: See You In Court

Ryan J. Reilly | February 2, 2012, 5:24PM

Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio

The Justice Department has written a very pointed letter to a lawyer for Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, telling him that they'll sue Maricopa County Sheriffs Office very soon unless they go forward with negotiations to settle issues regarding the office's alleged pattern of civil rights abuses.

DOJ and MCSO officials are supposed to meet on Feb. 6, but Deputy Assistant Attorney General Roy Austin wrote in a letter to Arpaio's lawyer on Thursday that if the purpose of the meeting "is solely for you to tell us in person that you do not agree with our findings, there is no reason for us to meet."

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Joe Arpaio

DOJ: Arpaio's Actions Suggest He's Trying To Delay Discrimination Case

Ryan J. Reilly | January 17, 2012, 6:36PM

Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio

Updated: January 17, 2012, 8:37 PM

A top Justice Department official says that Sheriff Joe Arpaio's actions "cast considerable doubt" on the claim that he and his office are cooperating following accusations that they use discriminatory policing methods. Indeed, the actions of Arpaio's Maricopa County Sheriff's Office suggest their "true goal is further delay," the official wrote.

Assistant Attorney General Thomas Perez, who heads DOJ's Civil Rights Division, also chastised Arpaio for claiming that the federal investigation into his office's activities, which began during the Bush administration, was all about politics.

"This investigation is about public safety, not politics, notwithstanding Sheriff Arpaio's continuing claims to the contrary," Perez wrote in response to a letter sent by Arpaio's attorney earlier this month. "It is about breaking down the 'wall of distrust' between MCSO and significant segments of the community. It is about transforming MCSO into a fully effective, lawful sheriff's office -- one which has polices and practices in place that reduce crime, respect the Constitution, and earn the confidence of the entire community."

DOJ announced back in December that their review of the practices of the MCSO found that Arpaio had "promoted" and "encouraged" discriminatory behavior against Latinos in Maricopa County. Arpaio's team has asked DOJ to present all of its evidence in the name of transparency, though most of the evidence was the very same material and interviews that MCSO provided.

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Joe Arpaio

DOJ Is Sorry If Sheriff Joe Arpaio's Feelings Were Hurt When They Disclosed His Civil Rights Abuses

Ryan J. Reilly | January 5, 2012, 6:28PM

Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio

You know how when you're trying to avoid apologizing to someone who's upset you throw in a qualifier like "sorry you're upset" or "sorry you feel that way"? That's the type of classic non-apology that a Justice Department official gave to officials representing Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio who were perturbed by the DOJ's press conference announcing the findings of an investigation into wide-spread civil rights abuses in Arpaio's office.

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Joe Arpaio

Accused Of Retaliation, Sheriff Joe Wants DOJ To Name His Department's Alleged Victims

Ryan J. Reilly | January 4, 2012, 6:02PM

Sheriff Joe Arpaio's Maricopa County Sheriff's Office -- the same law enforcement agency accused of retaliating against political opponents -- wants the names of "each and every" resident interviewed by Justice Department officials who accused the MCSO of racial discrimination and other civil rights violations.

But a Justice Department spokeswoman said Wednesday that they "look forward to sitting down soon with MCSO," but "will not hesitate to take prompt legal action" if they find that MCSO "is again failing to act in good faith."

A defiant Arpaio had issued a statement on Wednesday (the deadline for MCSO to tell the feds whether they planned to cooperate with the three-and-a-half year investigation into allegations of discrimination) saying he would "not tolerate being micromanaged by Washington, DC." He said he wants to evaluate all of the evidence the feds have on him and his office.

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Joe Arpaio

Attorney For Family of Dead Military Veteran Blasts Joe Arpaio's Trip to Iowa

Nick R. Martin | December 28, 2011, 11:38AM

Sheriff Joe Arpaio has a lot of problems on his plate right now, not the least of which are two ongoing investigations surrounding a Latino military veteran who died after a brief stay in his officers' custody.

So it begs the question: How could the Arizona sheriff find time to jet to Iowa this week for two days of campaigning on behalf of presidential hopeful Rick Perry?

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Rick Perry

Sheriff Joe Arpaio's Help Comes With Baggage, But Rick Perry Doesn't Mind

Nick R. Martin | December 27, 2011, 5:25PM

As the final days of campaigning wind down in Iowa, Rick Perry is betting that an Arizona politician who's currently the target of civil and criminal investigations will be one of his last hopes to win over caucus goers.

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Joe Arpaio

Video Shows Joe Arpaio's Officer Used Taser On Latino Vet Who Later Died

Nick R. Martin | December 23, 2011, 6:41PM

Updated: December 23, 2011 10:05PM

More than eight hours of video footage released Friday showed it was one of Sheriff Joe Arpaio's officers who used a Taser on a Latino military veteran that later died. The video also showed the veteran was nearly lifeless when officers put him naked in a cell and left him alone for about 11 minutes.

Two agencies were involved in an altercation with Ernest "Marty" Atencio when they tried to book him into an Arizona jail on suspicion of assault last week. But until now, neither the Maricopa County Sheriff's office nor the Phoenix Police Department had admitted to using a Taser in the melee. That was despite the fact that an attorney for Atencio's family said doctors found obvious signs that some sort of stun gun had been used.

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Joe Arpaio

Sheriff Joe Arpaio's Office to Release Video of Fight That Led to Latino Vet's Death

Nick R. Martin | December 22, 2011, 9:48AM

Sheriff Joe Arpaio's office tells TPM it will release a video as soon as today showing officers struggling with a Latino military veteran who later died of his injuries.

The veteran, Ernest "Marty" Atencio, was kept on life support at a Phoenix hospital for days after last week's fight with officers inside one of Arpaio's jails. The fight took place early Friday morning, just hours after the Justice Department accused the Arizona sheriff of running an agency that regularly violates the civil rights of Latinos.

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Fiesta Bowl

Arizona Politicians Cleared In Fiesta Bowl Scandal By Republican Prosecutor

Nick R. Martin | December 21, 2011, 2:15PM

Former Arizona State Senate President Russell Pearce (R)

A Republican prosecutor has cleared more than 30 Arizona politicians and three lobbyists of criminal wrongdoing in the Fiesta Bowl scandal, saying the state's laws just weren't tough enough for him to press charges.

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Joe Arpaio

Latino Vet Injured In Arpaio's Jail Dies

Nick R. Martin | December 21, 2011, 10:49AM

After being kept alive for days following a fight with officers in one of Sheriff Joe Arpaio's jails, a Latino military veteran died late Tuesday when he was taken off life support by doctors at a Phoenix hospital, his family's attorney tells TPM.

Ernest "Marty" Atencio was 44. He was injured early Friday morning, just hours after the Justice Department accused the Arizona sheriff of running an agency that regularly violates the rights of Latinos.

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Joe Arpaio

Latino Military Veteran Not Expected To Survive After Scuffle With Sheriff Joe Arpaio's Officers

Nick R. Martin | December 20, 2011, 3:50PM

A Latino military veteran is brain dead and his family is planning to decide today whether to take him off life support, following his scuffle with officers last week in one of Sheriff Joe Arpaio's jails.

Ernest "Marty" Atencio was injured early Friday morning, just hours after the Justice Department released a scathing report accusing the Arizona sheriff of running an agency that regularly violates the rights of Latinos.

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Joe Arpaio

Inmate In Maricopa County Jail In Critical Condition After 'Scuffle' With Guards

Ryan J. Reilly | December 19, 2011, 11:20AM

An inmate named Ernest M. Atencio was hospitalized because of injuries sustained while he was in a Maricopa County jail last week just days after the Justice Department released a report chronicling alleged discrimination in the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office led by Sheriff Joe Arpaio, the Phoenix New Times reports.

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Joe Arpaio

Sheriff Joe Arpaio: DOJ 'Sneak Attack' Is Just Part Of Obama's Reelection Bid (VIDEO)

Ryan J. Reilly | December 16, 2011, 3:35PM

Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio

Sheriff Joe Arpaio said Friday that the Justice Department's extensive three-and-a-half-year probe of his Maricopa County Sheriff's Office was all just part of a bid for President Obama to win the Hispanic vote in 2012, even though the investigation began five months before Obama was even elected.

Responding to the Civil Rights Division's findings that Arpaio "promoted a culture of bias" within the MCSO where detention officers called Latino inmates "wetbacks" and "Mexican bitches," Arpaio took to Fox News on Friday afternoon to criticize Assistant Attorney General Thomas Perez for opening up DOJ's Thursday press conference with the words "buenos dias."

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Joe Arpaio

Arpaio Opponents: He's Not Gonna Go Quietly

Jillian Rayfield | December 16, 2011, 1:13PM

Sheriff Joe Arpaio's critics say they know that despite the Justice Department's scathing report on bias in the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, Joe Arpaio is not going down without a fight.

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Joe Arpaio

Joe Arpaio: This Is A 'Sad Day For America'

Jillian Rayfield | December 15, 2011, 6:28PM

Sheriff Joe Arpaio says that it's a "sad day for America" when he's accused of discrimination.

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Joe Arpaio

Arpaio Critics: Want Reform? Sheriff Joe Has To Go

Ryan J. Reilly and Jillian Rayfield | December 15, 2011, 5:12PM

The findings in DOJ's investigation of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office didn't surprise many local longtime critics of Sheriff Joe Arpaio, many of whom said Thursday that his departure would be the only way to put a stop to his office's deep-seated bias.

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Janet Napolitano

DHS Cuts Off Sheriff Joe Arpaio's Access To ICE Programs

Ryan J. Reilly | December 15, 2011, 2:04PM

Updated: 2:55PM

The Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement just cut off the Maricopa County's Sheriff's Office's access to the Secure Communities program and terminated an agreement which lets them detain individuals in the country illegally after their initial arrest.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said in a statement that the decision was based on the Justice Department's findings of discriminatory policing practices by MCSO and Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

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Joe Arpaio

Feds: Sheriff Joe Arpaio 'Promoted A Culture Of Bias,' Discriminated Against Latinos

Ryan J. Reilly | December 15, 2011, 11:56AM

Updated: Dec. 15, 12:42PM

Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio has "promoted a culture of bias" against Latinos in his Maricopa County Sheriff's Office and communicated to officers that "biased policing would not only be tolerated, but encouraged," according to a just-released report by the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division.

DOJ investigators found during a three year probe that there was reasonable cause to believe that Arpaio, who fancies himself America's Toughest Sheriff, and the Maricopa County's Sheriff's Office (MCSO) have engaged "in a pattern or practice of unconstitutional policing" and "engages in racial profiling of Latinos; unlawfully stops, detains, and arrests Latinos; and unlawfully retaliates against individuals who complain about or criticize MCSO's policies or practices."

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Joe Arpaio

Justice Department To Announce Results Of Investigation Into Sheriff Joe Arpaio

December 15, 2011, 10:03AM

The head of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division will announce the results of a long running investigation into in Joe Arpaio's Maricopa County Sheriff's Office in Arizona on Thursday.

Assistant Attorney General Thomas Perez has a press conference at the U.S. Attorney's office in Phoenix scheduled for 12 p.m. EST to discuss the results of their probe into the office run by the man known as America's Toughest Sheriff.

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Joe Arpaio

Arpaio: Grijalva Is The One Who Should Resign

Jillian Rayfield | December 5, 2011, 6:45PM

Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio

Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio dismissed Rep. Raul Grijalva's calls for his resignation, saying that Grijalva just doesn't like Arpaio's immigration policies, and he is the one who should resign.

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Raul Grijalva

Grijalva Calls For Arpaio To Resign Over Alleged Botched Sex-Crime Cases

Jillian Rayfield | December 5, 2011, 4:54PM

Arizona Rep. Raul Grijalva called for Joe Arpaio to resign after accusations that the Maricopa County Sheriff botched over 400 sex-crime investigations in a period of three years.

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Joe Arpaio

Sheriff Joe Accused Of Botching Over 400 Sex-Crime Investigations

Jillian Rayfield | December 5, 2011, 9:42AM

Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio

Critics of notorious Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio say he inadequately investigated over 400 sex-crime investigations, according to a report by the Associated Press.

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Russell Pearce

Group That Recalled Russell Pearce Targets Jan Brewer, Joe Arpaio

Jillian Rayfield | November 22, 2011, 1:35PM

Gov. Jan Brewer (R-AZ)

The group behind the successful recall of Arizona Senate President Russell Pearce is now targeting infamous Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer.

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Joe Arpaio

Bail Posted For Ex-Joe Arpaio Employees Charged With Smuggling Heroin

Jillian Rayfield | October 14, 2011, 6:30AM

Two former employees in the Maricopa County Sheriff's office have posted bail after being charged with conspiring to smuggle heroin and launder money. Three in total are facing charges.

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Minuteman PAC

Minuteman PAC Fundraising For Joe Arpaio's 'Cold Case Posse'

Jillian Rayfield | September 26, 2011, 11:31AM

Minuteman volunteer Haskell (no last name) of Houston, looks across the Mexico border from atop his vehicle as a Border Patrol helicopter passes overhead.

Minuteman PAC wants to capitalize on that key subset of anti-immigration activists who are birthers.

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Joe Arpaio

Sheriff Joe Arpaio Assigns 'Cold Case Posse' To Investigate Obama's Birth Certificate

Jillian Rayfield | September 19, 2011, 10:15AM

Sheriff Joe Arpaio

Hey, remember the birthers?

Infamous Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio does -- which is why he announced a five-person "Cold Case Posse" that will delve into the issue of President Obama's birth certificate.

The posse follows a request by the Surprise, Arizona Tea Party, who Arpaio met with on August 17. The Surprise Tea Party believes that the long-form birth certificate released by President Obama in April -- which put the issue to rest for pretty much everyone -- could be a forgery.

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Joe Arpaio

Steven Seagal And Arpaio Deputies Sued For Killing Puppy During Tank Raid On AZ Man's Home

Jillian Rayfield | September 1, 2011, 1:20PM

Stephen Seagal

Actor and "Lawman" Steven Seagal is being sued for conducting a raid on an Arizona man's home alongside deputies of Sheriff Joe Arpaio, which allegedly resulted in the accidental death of the man's puppy.

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Joe Arpaio

DOJ Settles With Sheriff Joe Arpaio After He Gives Up Docs For Discrimination Probe

Ryan J. Reilly | June 2, 2011, 4:45PM

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio

Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio, the controversial anti-immigration official under federal investigation because his police practices and jail operations allegedly discriminate based on national origin, has reached a settlement with the Justice Department requiring him to turn over documents he's refused to give investigators.

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Joe Arpaio

Joe Arpaio Defends Sarah Palin, Says Sheriff Dupnik Too Political (VIDEO)

Ryan J. Reilly | January 11, 2011, 10:02PM

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, not exactly known for his bipartisanship, thinks that fellow Arizona Sheriff Clarence Dupnik of Pima County is getting too political in his rhetoric in the wake of the mass shooting over the weekend that killed six people and gravely injured Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ).

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Maricopa County

Merry Christmas! Sheriff Joe Makes Inmates Sing For Decent Food

Ryan J. Reilly | December 24, 2010, 12:15PM

A TPM photo illustration of Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio has his own way of getting in the Christmas spirit: he has inmates perform Christmas carols for him "American Idol"-style and serves the winner a "full turkey dinner with all the real trimmings" as opposed to the usual gruel, which the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office says "vaguely resembles an average Christmas meal" and costs 14 cents.

A press release from Arpaio's office says the man who describes himself as "America's Toughest Sheriff" would be holding a caroling contest for pre-trial inmates in "a move likely to make Ebenezer Scrooge smile."

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Joe Arpaio

Sheriff Joe On Immigration Enforcement: 'We're Not Stopping'

Ryan J. Reilly | November 22, 2010, 10:25AM

Sheriff Joe Arpaio

Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who announced last week that his anti-illegal immigration posse had been joined by Lou Ferrigno of "Hulk" fame and actor Steven Seagal, told TPM that federal and local investigations of him and his office haven't hampered his work.

"A lot of people don't like me enforcing immigration laws or going after corruption," Arpaio told me.

"We've not stopping. For three years we've been enforcing the state and federal laws on immigration successfully," Arpaio said.

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Joe Arpaio

Sheriff Joe's New 'Posse' Includes Hulk Lou Ferrigno, Steven Seagal

Ryan J. Reilly | November 18, 2010, 8:36AM

Sheriff Joe Arpaio, with Lou Ferrigno as "The Incredible Hulk" and Steven Segal inset.

Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio has gone Hollywood. The Maricopa County Sheriff announced Wednesday that he was teaming up with action movie stars -- including Lou Ferrigno of "Hulk" fame and actor Steven Seagal -- to aid in his anti-illegal immigration crusade.

Ferrigno and Seagal, both real life deputies in other parts of the county, were among the 56 individuals who were sworn in as illegal immigration fighters on Wednesday.

Arpaio's office said the "national known celebrity crime fighters" would join the 60th posse created in the County since Arpaio took office in 1993. All in all, there are nearly 3000 participants in the posses, Arpaio said.

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Joe Arpaio

County Alleges Sheriff Joe Improperly Funneled Money In Hidden Database

Ryan J. Reilly | November 12, 2010, 9:16AM

Sheriff Joe Arpaio

Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio kept a hidden database that shows that he used money designated for funding jails for other purposes, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors alleges.

The County Administration office learned that the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office created a hidden database in 2002 which tracks the differences between where employees work and how employees are paid. "In many instances, it crosses different funding sources, thereby creating an inappropriate spending of restricted funds," the administration office said in a press release.

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2010 Elections

Judge Approves Tea Party Items At Polls In Sheriff Joe's Territory

Ryan J. Reilly | November 2, 2010, 10:32AM

Tea Partiers -- or supporters of any political cause or candidate -- will be allowed to wear their gear to the polls in Maricopa County, the Arizona Republic reports.

After a federal judge decided on Monday that "'tea party' T-shirt or any apparel that does not express support for or opposition to" a candidate, proposition or political party on the ballot should be allowed, a Maricopa County election official said she would not be able to retrain poll workers less than a day before the election. So Maricopa County Recorder Helen Purcell told the Arizona Republic she'll let any apparel in.

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voter fraud

Justice Department To Monitor Polls In Harris County, Sheriff Joe's Turf

Ryan J. Reilly | October 29, 2010, 6:26PM

Catherine Engelbrecht and Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio

Harris County, Texas and Maricopa County, Arizona are among the 30 jurisdictions in which federal observers will monitor polling place activities or Justice Department personnel will monitor the election, DOJ announced late Friday.

The Tea Party-backed group True the Vote, the Texas Democratic Party, Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee and even the New Black Panther Party have traded accusations of voter intimidation in Harris County and called for federal elections monitors to be deployed to the area.

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Joe Arpaio

Sheriff Joe Joins Anti-Voter Fraud Crusade

Ryan J. Reilly | October 28, 2010, 4:41PM

Sheriff Joe Arpaio

Sheriff Joe Arpaio recently wrote an e-mail to supporters asking them to "join me today and help me STOP ILLEGALS FROM STEALING THIS ELECTION!"

Arpaio, the controversial Sheriff of Maricopa County in Arizona, has railed against illegal immigration, but is under investigation by the Justice Department due to allegations that his anti-illegal immigration techniques are discriminatory.

"Nothing is more important in protecting the United States today than protecting the sanctity of our votes. Sadly, we are not just fighting criminals from other nations," Arpaio writes. "We are fighting our own president and very determined individuals in America who want to disenfranchise U.S. Citizens of their votes."

Lydia Guzman, director of the nonprofit immigrant advocacy group Respect/Respeto, told TPMMuckraker that Arpaio's e-mail was inappropriate because his office would handle many elections-related activities.

"When this Sheriff sends out e-mails like the one he sent out, it poses a problem," Guzman said. "He should not be the person to enforce or oversee the protection of the election because he's the one who is going to be disenfranchising the electorate."

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Joe Arpaio

FBI Looking At Sheriff Joe's Aides For Alleged Misconduct

Ryan J. Reilly | October 6, 2010, 4:52PM

Sheriff Joe Arpaio

Add one more FBI investigation to the list of federal probes into Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio's Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.

Federal agents and the U.S. Attorney's office are probing whether top Arpaio aide Chief Deputy David Hendershott -- who has directed the day-to-day operations of the office for a number of years -- mismanaged the department, according to a letter from the U.S. Attorney obtained by TPMMuckraker.

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Joe Arpaio

Officials: Sheriff Joe's Office Charged Luxury Trips To County, Misused Up To $80 Million

Ryan J. Reilly | September 23, 2010, 11:03AM

Sheriff Joe Arpaio

Joe Arpaio, the Arizona sheriff infamous due to his attention-grabbing immigration enforcement related stunts and the accusations his office discriminates against Latinos, allegedly misused millions in funds intended for jail operations, Maricopa County officials said Wednesday.

Excerpts of the reports, obtained by TPMMuckraker, show officials from Arpaio's office made trips to Orlando, D.C., Honduras, Tempe, Belize, Alaska and Puerto Rico on the county's dime and racked up other questionable expenses, like $741 at Sardella's Pizza and Wings. The county was also charged $350 for a hotel room upgrade for one official's spouse. One employee went on multiple extradition trips without submitting receipts for the $62,750 he or she spent -- including $1,341 on Disney World Yacht Club Resort food and entertainment.

Others expenses charged to the county, according to the report, include $1,684 for a portable generator for parade lights on an army tank; $635 at Buca di Beppo when members of the Honduran National Police were in town; and $500 on a carriage ride.

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