Posted on 08/27/2016 7:00:39 AM PDT by originalbuckeye
PHOENIX (AP) -- The investigation and possible prosecution of metropolitan Phoenix Sheriff Joe Arpaio will be handled by the U.S. Justice Department after federal prosecutors in Arizona asked to be removed because of unspecified conflicts of interest, according to a court filing made public.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for Arizona said in its brief filing Friday in U.S. District Court in Phoenix that the case has been assigned to the Justice Department's criminal division, public integrity section. The filing cited "existing conflicts of interest or the appearance of conflicts of interest pertaining to the matter" for Arizona's federal prosecutors, but it did not provide details.
Mel McDonald, an attorney for Arpaio, said he was disappointed by the decision. "It's their call," McDonald said. "If they have a conflict ... I'm not one to second-guess that decision."
U.S. District Judge Murray Snow ruled last Friday that another judge should decide if Arpaio and others should be held in criminal contempt-of-court for ignoring court orders in a racial profiling case. Snow also said there was probable cause to believe Arpaio intentionally failed to turn over records that he had promised, under oath, to give to a court official. The records were from a secret investigation that Arpaio's foes say focused on Snow in an attempt to discredit him.
Arpaio, a Republican who is running for a seventh term this year, has vigorously insisted that he didn't investigate Snow and instead said the probe was focused on widespread identity theft. Snow has not publicly explained why he turned the Arpaio case over to another judge, but federal law says a judge is to be disqualified from a criminal contempt case if the defendant is accused of disrespecting or criticizing the court.
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Why can’t he use the Clinton defense?
I think the Clinton defense only works for criminal Dems.
What a joke.
A sick joke.
They’re “probing” Joe alright.
Joe ought to get some BleachBit to destroy those records and then tell the Injustice Dept. that it was just his Chistmas card list. Why should Hillary be running for president while Sheriff Joe is being charged? We all know the reason.
Again? The Feds have wasted enough taxpayer dollars going after Arpaio! Enough!
Again?
Probed with hot razors. The guy knows Obama was never even a valid citizen.
God Himself will judge us all, including these lawless traitors in the “Just Us” Dept. Then they will know what fear and regret really are.
Just five months and all these AP headlines will be transformed to “Deptartment of Justice investigates Sanctuary Cities”.
From your keyboard to God’s ears.
How about probing that b!tch who would be queen?
It was just a matter of time before Justice got around to Sheriff Joe.
Absolutely. Justice Dept is not about justice any longer, it is lawlessness oppressing the law abiding.
If I were ever to get on a DoJ jury for something they are prosecuting, my vote is going to be not guilty.
Donald Trump has some of the best lawyers in the World at his fingertips...you think for one second that the Dirty Obuma Justice Depot is going to be able to touch Sheriff Joe, not in our life time...those attorneys will mire the DOJ in so many briefs, they will be dead and buried by the time they get through them all...
Joe is a great friend to Trump...won’t happen...
Another political witchhunt from corrupt Obama.
If Arizonans want to keep Sheriff Joe, they better vote for him and Trump.
It’s the timing.....our Primary is this week and they’re trying to boost his competitor in the R Primary so the Dem can eventually win. I suspect he is safe, but they will ramp up garbage before the November election, too. I am sure of that.
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