The Republican lawmakers in Arizona constantly yammer about fiscal responsibility, but their favorite sheriff, Joe Arpaio, has cost Maricopa County taxpayers nearly $50 million in lawsuits and mismanagement. Now we hear that Arpaio's former lackey, County Attorney Andrew Thomas, has already spent $100,000 in taxpayer's money defending himself from an ethics violation before the dang thing has even gone to court. To top it off, yesterday County Supervisors said they'd open their checkbook to reimburse the remainder of his lawyer's fee:
After his attorney threatened to quit, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors agreed Thursday to continue to pay legal expenses for former County Attorney Andrew Thomas, who faces trial in September on allegations of ethical misconduct that could result in his disbarment. Arizona Republic
According to New Times, the Supes discussed spending up to $300,000 more on Thomas's defense. Excuse me?
Until last year Andrew Thomas was the County Attorney who gave legal cover to many of Joe Arpaio's most obnoxious tactics, including his infamous "sweeps" through neighborhoods and businesses, where's the Sheriff's deputies round up anyone whose citizenship seems in doubt (i.e. brown people).
But what really got the dickhead in hot water, leading to the expensive ethics charge whose defense I and other citizens are bankrolling, was Thomas's role in harassing, suing, and indicting people on Arpaio's enemies list, including journalists, judges, and elected officials who opposed the Sheriff's police state policies. For instance, in the wee morning hours of October 18, 2007, the Arpaio-Thomas tag team sent their goons to arrest New Times' publisher and editor, two long-time critics of the Sheriff:
The story of two newspapermen rounded up in the middle of the night by plainclothes thugs in unmarked cars bearing Mexican plates hit the local and national press like an A-bomb. The resulting conflagration of criticism forced Thomas to drop the entire matter less than 24 hours after Lacey and Larkin had been taken in and booked. New Times
The most far-reaching and frightening part of the subpoena was that the dynamic duo demanded the internet protocol addresses and website viewing habits of everyone who visited the newspaper's website!
Even Arizona's ultra-conservative media and political leaders went ballistic over Thomas's abuse of powers and he immediately dropped the case, but Andy and Joe were just getting warmed up. In 2008, the Attorney-Sheriff alliance indicted another critic, County Supervisor Don Stapley, on more than 100 counts:
The world's pettiest law enforcement duo is at it again. Sheriff Joe Arpaio and County Attorney Andrew Thomas have socked Maricopa County Supervisor Don Stapley with 118 felony counts for -- gasp! -- failing to fill out paperwork properly. New Times
In addition to Stapley, the two numbnuts indicted Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox on 42 criminal counts. Both the Stapley and Wilcox lawsuits were so transparently vindictive and empty that they were tossed, and now the two Supervisors are suing Arpaio and Thomas:
A Maricopa County supervisor is seeking $4.75 million in damages in a notice filed Thursday against Sheriff Joe Arpaio and other top county officials, alleging they launched a criminal investigation against her because she opposed their efforts targeting illegal immigration.... The notice says the investigation damaged the couple's reputation, alienated them from friends and political allies, caused their restaurant business to suffer and inflicted emotional damage. ABC15.com
Get in line, Mary Rose. In addition to the nearly $50 million that taxpayers have already shelled out to pay for Arpaio's corrupt regime, there's another $100 million or so in lawsuits pending.
As a result of Thomas's scare tactics and clearly spiteful lawsuits, earlier this year the Arizona State Bar filed suit to disbar him, which is the case he's piling up a huge bill defending.
Thomas was formally charged Feb. 3 with ethics violations after a lengthy investigation. The state Bar, which licenses and polices attorneys, accused Thomas and two of his former deputies with conflicts of interest and filing criminal and civil cases without probable cause or sufficient evidence. Arizona Republic
But wait, it gets better. Last year Thomas resigned as County Attorney to run for Attorney General -- a position that would give him and Arpaio even more legal heft to implement their fascist policies. Even with Arpaio's backing, Thomas narrowly lost to another Mexican hater, Tom Horne. So what was this piss ant's response?
Former Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas filed a notice of claim against Arizona on Tuesday, seeking $23.5 million for personal and professional damage he says stems from his conflicts with county officials and the State Bar of Arizona. Arizona Republic
Talk about major cajones! The former County Attorney actually blamed his election loss, his being out of work, and the legal albatrosses around his neck on the consequences of his own unethical conduct. He not only wants taxpayers to compensate him to the tune of $23.5 million because he ran a corrupt agency that destroyed people's careers, he's also demanding that we continue to pay for his legal defense. And yesterday the County Supervisors rolled over and said sure, no problem.
Only in Arizona would this jackass not already be disbarred. Only in Arizona would corrupt officials get away with fleecing taxpayers to defend their criminal actions. Only in Arizona would these immoral jerks think they should be compensated for their illicit behavior.