After Barack Obama took office his subordinates at the Justice Department wasted little time in launching a legal assault on Sheriff Joe Arpaio, announcing two probes in March 2009.
The grounds for the probes are highly questionable. One of the investigations apparently centers around the complaint that Arpaio’s jails aren’t sufficiently friendly to non-English speaking criminals, almost all of whom are here illegaly. The other investigation is looking into claims of racial profiling by Arpaio in conducting his saturation patrols that have been successful in rounding up illegal immigrants. Of course, the people clamoring for that investigation are members of the open borders crowd.
After a year and half of these “investigations,” it’s clear that Team Obama has crapped out, producing nothing of substance. So our left-wing Maricopa County Board of Supervisors comes to rescue, offering to use their subpoena powers under state law to give the feds materials that they have no right to.
Democrat lawyer Tom Irvine, who’s made a killing off of the boondoggle Court Tower project, and $175,000 a year board attorney Wade Swanson seem to be at the heart of this, writing a letter to the Obama Justice Department saying the Board would use its power to compel the Sheriff to turn over materials that the Justice Department can’t otherwise get.
As taxpayers we’re actually paying these lawyers to team up with Obama and Co. in their continuing attack on Arizona and the fight against illegal immigration. And even worse is their argument for getting involved. They claim that by aiding the Obama Administration in their attacks on Arpaio they will actually SAVE the taxpayers money. That sounds like the famous Vietnam War era quote about having to destroy the village in order to save it.
Incredibly enough, the Board is always complaining that Arpaio abuses his power! What do they call this end around the rule of law?
As unpopular as Barack Obama is in Arizona, with his lawsuit against the state over Senate Bill 1070, it’s hard to see the political wisdom of getting into bed with him. It appears the Sups are blinded to political reality by their hatred of Joe Arpaio.
