PHOENIX (AP) – The campaign manager for metro Phoenix’s longtime sheriff on Thursday questioned a federal judge’s timing in asking prosecutors to pursue criminal contempt-of-court charges against the lawman 10 days before a primary election.
The rare move in a long-running racial profiling case alleging Sheriff Joe Arpaio targeted Latinos in traffic stops comes as he faces his toughest race in 23 years in office. It’s unclear whether the ruling will hurt the popular 84-year-old’s chances in the Republican primary Tuesday.
Arpaio is a national figure known for cracking down on illegal immigration and forcing inmates to wear pink underwear and live in tents outdoors in the summer heat. He gave a speech at the Republican National Convention and has raised $10 million this cycle, much of it from out-of-state sources.
U.S. District Judge Murray Snow sent the case to criminal court last week after concluding months ago that Arpaio intentionally ignored his orders to stop patrols targeting immigrants. A retired judge defended the decision, saying politics isn’t a consideration, only getting out rulings as soon as possible.
Campaign manager Chad Willems said he finds the timing of the ruling to be odd but wasn’t suggesting Snow was trying to harm Arpaio’s bid for a seventh term.