The following is an official statement by Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio regarding today's lawsuit filed against his office by the U.S. Justice Department in Washington, D.C. for alleged refusal to turn over documents. It is followed by another statement from his Washington, D.C. attorney, Bob Driscoll.
"The Obama administration has filed three lawsuits against Arizona in the last few weeks ... one against a college district, one against the state of Arizona and now one against my office. Each lawsuit centers on something to do with alleged racial discrimination.
These actions make it abundantly clear that Arizona, including this Sheriff, IS Washington's new whipping boy. Now it's time to take the gloves off.
As for today's lawsuit against my office: These people in Washington met with my attorneys only a few days ago. And in that meeting, Washington got our cooperation; they admitted they already have thousands of pages of the requested documents; and they were given access to interview my staff and get into my jails.
They smiled in our faces and then stabbed us in the back with this lawsuit. The Obama administration intended to sue us all along, no matter what we did to try to avert it. Washington isn't playing fair and it's time Americans everywhere wake up and see this administration for what it really is. Calculating, underhanded at times and certainly not looking out for the best interests of the legal citizens residing in this country." |