Arpaio: Arizona’s Bully With a Badge Under FBI Investigation, Too

America's Voice Blog

Posted 11/04/09 at 11:37am

What does Sheriff Arpaio do when he’s criticized?

Faiz Shakir and his team at Think Progress have a damning rundown of what many are calling “Arpaio's Abuse Of Power.” From the Progress Report:

This weekend, news reports revealed that the FBI is investigating whether Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio has been "using his position to settle political vendettas" against those who have been critical of his controversial tactics, namely his bullish pursuit of undocumented immigrants.

That’s right, the FBI is investigating Arpaio for allegedly using his power as Sheriff to “to settle political vendettas.”

According to KPHO News:

Over the past year, 5 Investigators examined more than two dozen complaints against the sheriff from business owners, government workers, mayors and law-enforcement officials.

They claim they spoke out against Arpaio, and shortly after, deputies paid them unwelcome visits.

According to Zachary Roth of Talking Points Memo, the names on Arpaio’s target list consist of those who have authority over the sheriff or those who have challenged his authority at some point in time. On his black list include a number of high-profile officials and journalists, ranging from a Superior Court Judge to his opponent in Maricopa County’s 2004 and 2008 run for Sheriff.

But despite visits from the Sheriff’s posse, a number of his critics continue to speak out.

Many are interviewed in this shocking CBS report on Arpaio and his intimidation tactics:

Like many bullies with a badge before him, the Sheriff appears to use scare tactics to silence those who get in his way.

Perhaps his only regret is that they’re not undocumented immigrants-- if they were, he might shackle them together and march them through the streets of Phoenix to a tent city in the desert surrounded by electric fencing.

With Arpaio under investigation by both the DOJ and the FBI, the question becomes, how many more people will have to suffer Arpaio’s tactics before justice is served?