Sheriff Joe Arpaio

Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Arizona's Maricopa County has been under fire for his immigration law-enforcement policies from protesters who simply object to what he's doing, in a lawsuit alleging his department profiles on race, and from the federal government which has canceled agreements with his department to check for violators who arrive at his jail.

Now he's wondering just how much of that displeasure from Washington is being generated by the perceived White House alarm over his Cold Case Posse investigation checking out suspicions raised by area tea-party officials that Barack Obama may use or try to use fraudulent documents to be on the 2012 presidential ballot in Arizona.

In an interview with WND, the sheriff said, "I am an elected sheriff. I took an oath of office to enforce all the laws of the state of Arizona. I take that very seriously. I do report to the people."

But he said he's considering the possibility there are political connections to the circumstances that have developed.

"The investigation, I'm not sure that's part of the puzzle or not. I wonder why they are going after me," he said. "I'm a little suspicious of what's going on. The reason I'm suspicious is that the president mentioned me recently."

He was talking about Barack Obama's recent discussion with some Hispanic journalists, and the question one raised about the government's investigation of Arpaio regarding his civil-rights record.

"The president didn't like the way I enforce 1070 (a state law regarding immigration)," he said.

Arpaio has confirmed his "Cold Case Posse" investigating Obama's presidential eligibility will release a preliminary report in February of its findings, which he expects to be "controversial."

He has described the work that is going on as "a serious law-enforcement investigation" and he said the findings will be "based in facts." Arpaio said a comprehensive report will be issued shortly after the February preliminary report.

His investigation was launched after local tea-party members expressed their concern to him about the possibility of fraud in the Obama campaign.

The investigators have experience ranging in a number of law enforcement branches, and are volunteers working without expense to Maricopa County taxpayers.

Those wishing to contribute to the 501(c)3 supporting the Cold Case Posse investigation may send tax-deductible donations to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office at: MCSO Cold Case Posse, P.O. Box 74374, Phoenix, Ariz., 85087.

The sheriff also confirmed the Obama investigation has broadened beyond an examination of whether or not the birth certificate made public by the White House on April 27 is an authentic document. The probe, he said, is examining Obama's history in regard to his eligibility to be president under Article 2, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution.

He said his team has amassed hundreds of pages of documentation and taken testimony from dozens of experts in preparation for a final phase of field investigation

In the interview with WND, he cited a tabloid's report that the White House is in a "panic" over the investigation.

That report comes from the Globe, which cited sources inside the White House saying that Michelle Obama "is in a panic" over the review by professional investigators.

Arpaio said he has no reason to doubt the report, as the times he has been quoted by the tabloid, the quotes have been accurate.

"Someone must pick up the Globe at the supermarket and deliver it to the White House," he told WND.

On the issue of immigration, the confrontation between Washington and the sheriff came to a head in recent days when the Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement said it no longer would use Arpaio's officers to screen detainees in Maricopa County jails.color=red]<<<All trained by The Feds.

That followed shortly after the agency's decision to revoke Arpaio's authority to access its immigration database, and follows a Justice Department review of claims his office violated civil rights of suspects.

Arpaio said his office had nearly 100 deputies trained by the federal government to investigate alleged illegal aliens, and regularly detected dozens and even hundreds to be held for deportation.

That training no longer will be used, and while the federal agency promised to send 50 agents to take over the deputies' duties, only one had been sent so far, the sheriff said.

The ICE agency declined to respond to WND requests for comment.

But thousands of aliens have been identified as suspect in recent years, Arpaio said, with his deputies averaging about 15 a day. The federal agent identified three on the first day on duty, he noted.

He also said ICE had refused to accept some detainees his deputies had identified, and his office had to transport them to the Border Patrol to avoid simply releasing them onto the streets.

Read more: Sheriff Joe 'suspicious' of motive behind Obama attacks http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=380829#ixzz1hlIC90Oh

Demons hate the light shined on the truth. Barry don't want Joe to shine the light on him.

It's sad,but this is all about politics.

If he's so sure about this, why isn't he using Maricopa Co. taxpayer funds to investigate this 'fraud' on his home turf? Why aren't these unnamed Tea Party officials getting their OWN _private_ investigators?

And since when does a 'news' agency solicit funds for a public law enforcement officer who lacks jurisdiction in the case to pursue another duly elected public official for what amounts to a publicity stunt meant to enhance the political fortunes of Shurf Joe and WND?

The Birthers have been consistently shot down in their 'tilting at windmills' efforts to 'expose' what isn't there. One of the biggest Birthers has even been held in contempt of court for tying up the public's justice system with these complete fabrications. Why is Shurf Joe's jihad any different and why are his 'investigators' not going after real criminals?

Then too, you have Shurf Joe appearing in Republican primary campaign stops like Iowa with Rick Perry, and, before he dropped out of the race, Herman Cain. No coincidence there, huh? 'Say it ain't so, Joe!'

I wonder if he knows that Perry supported the Dream Act? But hey, no use letting details get in the way when it's time to hobnob with the luminaries?


-Kerry O.

the birther thing makes us look like jack butts to the rest of the world


odd how they choose now to take issue with the wording of the constitution and demand some type of clarification that goes in their favor,,,


ridiculous,,,but we shouldnt expect actual politics from some folks,,,just more sensationalism and free publicity