Sheriff Joe Arpaio investigated by grand jury

[Learning Nomad]

Two high-ranking Maricopa County officials
confirmed late Thursday that they will testify next week before a federal grand jury exploring allegations that the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office has abused power.

County Manager David Smith and Assistant County Manager Sandi Wilson said they were preparing to testify before the grand jury on Wednesday.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio denied any knowledge of the grand jury, but news of sheriff's officials being called to testify before a federal panel has been circulating in county circles for months.

Republic sources have confirmed that at least three high-ranking sheriff's officials, including a captain and two chief deputies, have testified before a federal grand jury in the last four months, though the nature of their testimony remained unclear.

"I'm not going to comment on that situation," Arpaio said Thursday. "We're just going to continue doing our job and our investigations that we have in progress."

Sheriff's detectives
have undertaken a series of controversial investigations into county officials in the last year which heated up in recent months with indictments of two members of the Board of Supervisors, and a wide-ranging racketeering complaint filed in federal court that alleges a vast conspiracy against county supervisors, judges, private attorney and administrators including Smith and Wilson.

But the allegations of abuse of power have dogged Arpaio since long before that claim was filed.

.....more.....

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/01/07/20100...

God help us if the grand jury doesn't indict.

[bemildred]

1. Sheriff Joe will arrest the Grand Jury to stop this illegal investigation.

:popcorn:

[Catshrink]

3. That's his MO

He'll investigate them and force them to run up huge legal bills. Did you hear that he had a judge who had ruled against him charged?

[zonkers]

2. Wait, I thought only Joe could call for a grand jury?

[sasquatch]

4. It's a federal grand jury

[panader0]

5. Arpaio is an embarrassment to Arizona

He should be in jail already. He and other Maricopa County cops took monies gained from drug sellers and the like and flew to the Honduras (I believe) to vacation, golfing and scubaing. The money was supposed to be used for anti-drug programs. When The New Times, an alternative newspaper in the Phoenix area, began to investigate, Arpaio had their reporter arrested. He is a crook, aside from the fact that he is a a cruel and racist asshole. Pink underwear in 120 degree tents and green baloney for the inmates. I hope he has to have a taste of his own medicine.

[Downtown Hound]

6. I'm glad to see they're FINALLY doing something about this asshole

Arpaio is utter filth. God I hope they throw his fat ass in the can.

[sabrina 1]

7. He finally went too far when he went after those officials.

I hope they get him and I hope the trial is not held in Arizona where he can intimidate the jury. If it's a Federal case, can they try it anywhere or does it have to be where the crime was committed?

[kayakjohnny]

8. He also went too far defending the a-hole baliff who swiped the attorney's

files, in the middle of a court proceeding.

With the cameras running.

For all to see.

[sabrina 1]

10. Lol, I know, that was like a scene from SNL.

He's a throw-back to some kind of primitive beings. An embarrassment, and a reminder that we have a long, long way to go. Because it's scary to think a whole lot of people elected him. Which means, there's more than one of him.

[Pithlet]

9. I hope this means he'll finally face justice.

It is long overdue.

[Bitwit1234]

11. I can't understand how this man is still in office any way.

A lot of people have been arrested, indicted or thrown out of office for less than what he has done.

[provis99]

12. because he keeps getting elected.

Arizona Republicans apparently like fascist Constitution-haters.

[blondeatlast]

13. Retirement communities, pure and simple. Even Libertarians despise

him. He's had many a VERY worthy opponent time after time, but he can't be beat because the retirement communities ovwerwhelm everyone else in GOTV.