By Stephanie McCrummen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, September 3, 2010
The Justice Department sued Joe Arpaio, sheriff of Arizona's Maricopa
County, on Thursday, saying his office has repeatedly declined to hand
over documents to federal investigators examining whether his
aggressive tactics against illegal immigrants have violated their
civil rights.
Arpaio, whose Phoenix area office has drawn widespread attention for
his unusual practices, has been the focus of U.S. investigators who
have opened criminal and civil investigations of the sheriff and his
office.
Justice officials said that Arpaio's decision not to respond to
routine document requests was rare, and that he had produced few of
the documents sought.
"The actions of the sheriff's office are unprecedented," said Thomas
E. Perez, assistant attorney general for the civil rights division.
"It is unfortunate that the department was forced to resort to
litigation to gain access to public documents and facilities."
In a statement, Arpaio and his attorney suggested that the lawsuit is
a publicity stunt. They said that the sheriff's office had turned over
"thousands of pages" of documents and that it pledged as recently as
this week to cooperate with federal authorities.
"These actions make it abundantly clear that Arizona, including the
Sheriff, is Washington's new whipping boy," Arpaio said. "It's time to
take the gloves off."
The lawsuit is the third filed by the Justice Department in connection
with how authorities in Arizona handle immigrants. On Monday, the
department sued a network of community colleges in Maricopa County,
saying they placed illegal requirements on non-citizens seeking jobs.
In May, the department sued the state and Gov. Jan Brewer (R) over the
state's new immigration law.
A federal grand jury in Phoenix is examining whether Arpaio
misappropriated federal money and used his office to intimidate his
political opponents. The Justice Department's civil rights division is
investigating whether Arpaio's office engaged in "discriminatory
police practices and unconstitutional searches and seizures," and
whether his jail discriminated against Hispanic inmates, according to
letters the division sent to Arpaio.
The latest lawsuit, filed in federal district court in Phoenix, asks a
federal judge to force the sheriff's office to comply with 51 requests
for documents and to provide investigators access to jails, command
staff, officers and inmates.
In the suit, Justice Department lawyers detail more than a year's
worth of letters and meetings between the department and the sheriff's
office. While Arpaio initially produced 11 pages of documents, he
later held a news conference and sent letters announcing that he would
no longer cooperate, the suit says.
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