Joe Arpaio goes after ACORN over funding (?), Obama administration links (racial profiling case)

Maricopa County Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio is conducting a bit of a media stunt and fishing expedition (and I mean the latter in a good way) regarding ACORN. He's trying to see if that organization has any links to the lawsuit claiming his deputies engaged in racial profiling; see that link for the backstory. Apparently the press release from his office said he wanted to know whether they're using any funds in relation to the suit, but the actual subpoena from his office was different and appears to want to find out whether there's been any coordination between the Obama administration and ACORN over this matter. If there were, that would be a big story.

However, ACORN is not a party to the suit; those involved are Steptoe and Johnson, the American Civil Liberties Union, MALDEF, and Somos America; maybe Arpaio has some evidence that ACORN is involved, or maybe he's just fishing and trying to get his name in the news.

In any case, his statement said (link):

"I believe the organization [ACORN] used state and federal funds meant to help poor people to conduct a campaign against me and my officers... These records will show, I believe, that ACORN is in bed with the anti-immigration enforcement organizations, which continue to demonstrate in front of my office trying to thwart my officers from enforcing state and federal law."

However, from huffingtonpost.com/dawn-teo/acorn-subpoenaed-by-ameri_b_290904.html:

After obtaining a copy of the subpoena, [ACORN Arizona director Monica Sandschafer] noted, "The subpoena does not seek any of the information Arpaio listed in his press release, which focused on funding."

According to Sandschafer, instead of requesting financial records, the subpoena requests "any and all correspondence" related to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Department and racial profiling that occurred between ACORN and third parties, including the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and the office of Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon. The subpoena goes as far as naming specific employees of the ACLU.

Sandschafer proudly confirmed, "Arizona ACORN has been a leader in the campaign to end the racial profiling, civil rights abuses and harassment and intimidation being perpetrated on our Latino communities every day at the hands of Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his deputies in Maricopa County. In part, as a result of our work, Sheriff Arpaio is now under investigation by the US Justice Department."

Sandschafter said although her group is proud of their opposition to racial profiling policies, they are not affiliated with the civil rights lawsuit against Arpaio.

Fri, 09/18/2009 - 12:16 · Importance: 4