Uncovered Video: Issa's Real Reason for Holder Witch Hunt!

Now we have Darryl Issa's true reason for his Witch Hunt against A.G. Eric Holder. Last April he spoke before the National Rifle Association (NRA) and he was video taped revealing his true reasons for this Witch Hunt against Attorney General Eric Holder.
As I've reported, Project Gunrunner and "Gun-Walking" was started under the Bush Administration and continued under the Obama Administration using the name "Fast & Furious." The ATF started these projects to try and find the leaders of the Cartels who were purchasing Hundreds of Thousands of guns from the US and other countries. The ATF lead agent in Phoenix became frustrated because he wasn't getting the leaders of the Cartels, just the underlings, so he "went rogue" allowing 2020 guns to be gun-walked from 2009 - 2010 and lost track of 1000 guns. A Cartel member killed a Border Agent in 2010, and one of the dozens of guns he had was a gun-walk gun.

Even though members of the Phoenix ATF testified to these events, Issa is using the Congressional Hearings as a political means to destroy A.G. Holder. Holder hasn't been cooperating with the Republican Agenda. Holder has taken sb1070 to the Supreme Court, he is indicting Arpaio, he is investigating the Republican Voter Suppression policies in 17 states, he is opposing the anti-gay marriage laws, and more. Republicans despise A.G. Holder and they want to get rid of him. Their plan: Create a Bogus Conspiracy Theory and force him to resign.

Now we have video evidence of Issa, speaking to the NRA faithful, advancing his baseless and reckless conspiracy theory that the Obama administration intentionally lost track of guns sold through the program in order to boost gun violence and clear the way for an assault weapons ban. Issa posed this as a rhetorical question and then answered it:
"They've never answered the question, "What were they thinking of?" Could it be that what they really were thinking of was in fact to use this walking of guns in order to promote an assault weapons ban. Many think so. And they haven't come up with an explanation that would cause any of us not to agree."

Issa's video proves his irrational allegations. Issa believes he is the Thought Police? He is suggesting that Congress prosecute our Attorney General based on this bogus theory of his? This video proves that Issa is pandering to the NRA and that his Thought Police claims are outright silly!

BTW, nutcase extremist Ted Nugent, famous for his racist attacks against our President, also spoke at this NRA Convention.

BREAKING NEWS: NRA Threatens Republicans in Congress: "You Don't Vote For Holder' Censure, You're Done!"

Breaking News in the Republican Witch Hunt Against Eric Holder: The NRA is THREATENING Republican Congress!!
NRA Memo to Republican Congress:
"The American people - including millions of NRA members and tens of millions of NRA supporters - deserve the truth about these issues, and we will support any effort that leads us to that truth. This is an issue of utmost seriousness and the NRA will consider this vote in future candidate evaluations."

Breaking News: I was just on the Michael Medved Show and Asked Him Why the Witch Hunt Against Eric Holder!

Breaking News: I was just on the Michael Medved Talk Radio show. I often listen to his show on my way home from my Consulting job. I frequently disagree with Michael, but he is likable and I listen to hear the opposition's perspective so I can write about them on my blog.
I never call in to talk radio shows but I decided to do so today because he was talking about Eric Holder and the President and he was clearly uninformed regarding the facts about "Fast and Furious." Since I just completed research about this issue, I asked why he and Republicans are on this witch hunt against Attorney General Holder and the President. He started spouting his talking points. I shared the history of events, starting with Project Gunrunner. What was amazing to me is, he was totally unaware, and admitted this, about: ATF William Newell and his operation in Phoenix going "rogue," allowing "Gun-Walking."  THIS IS THE CORE OF THE CASE!
Michael was also unaware of Agent Newell's testimony last July, 2011, during the Congressional Hearings when he testified and apologized the "Gun-Walking."
Michael is very good at overtalking, but he was clearly stumped and he admitted he was not aware that Newell's role was the CORE of the Case.

And he is also totally unaware of the reason for the contempt charges. It is clear that Republicans Grassley and Issa's motives are political. Holder has provided over 7,000 documents and has said he will sit down and detail these documents. However he will not include documents that identify undercover informants or documents related to pending cases that may jeopardize the prosecution of those indicted.
The only core/kernel that Republicans Grassley/Issa are standing on is THIS LETTER sent to Grassley in February, 2011 by the DOJ representative responding to Grassley's questions about the program after the whistle blower asked Grassley to investigate. Grassley interpretted th letter as saying the DOJ was LYING and DENYING "Fast & Furious" existed. BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT THE LETTER IS SAID. This letter talks about Project Gunrunner and NOT about the rogue operation "Gun-Walking" committed by Agent Newell and his crew in Phoenix.

Michael admitted he was unaware of so many CORE issues, but kept over-talking me. I wrote to him afterward encouraging him to read my article about this subject.
Deep inside, I think Michael has good intentions, but it's too bad he doesn't personally investigate the history and the facts before he goes on Witch Hunts. He is just like so many other Republican pundits.

I hope they start studying the facts.

God Bless America
and
God Bless Our President Barack Obama!

Republicans on a Witch Hunt against Attorney General Eric Holder

The Republicans are at it again. They are attacking Eric Holder and threatening him saying unless he resigns they will bring a formal "contempt" vote against him.
I decided to study the "Fast and Furious" program the Republicans are so up in arms about. After my studies, I am very concerned that the Press hasn't shared very much about the actual issues. The news stories suggest this is a recent issue about the "Fast and Furious" program and some type of cover up perpetrated by the Attorney General. However, this is totally wrong. Here is what I found out.
The reality is, this issue is actually about the decade long Drug War in Mexico, the weapons the US and other countries are sending to the Cartels that are fueling the War, and the ATF's mission to identify the Leaders in the Gun Running Operations. The ATF's mission is actually called "Operation Gun Runner" and started in 2005 during the Bush Administration. Operation Gun Runner used a new software search program called "eTrace" which enables identification of the weapon's original owners.  The ATF's mission was noble. They wanted to stem the flow of the weapons by identifying the Gun Running Leaders. They started a new program titled "Fast and Furious" in early 2009 because one of the key targets worked out of a Chop Shop -- similar to the popular movie. As the program progressed, some local ATFs became frustrated because they didn't believe the program was going fast enough or enabling them to identify the higher ups in the Gun Running operations. They were able to reach the lower levels, not the Leaders.  One local group in Phoenix led by ATF Special Agent William Newell went rogue. In late 2009, he started using a procedure called "Gun-Walking."
We've all heard of "stings." Gun-Walking is a type of sting. The ATF group in Phoenix utilized certain Gun Shops to sell ATF weapons and they watched the bad-guys purchase the guns so they could follow them and identify their leaders. This was not standard procedure. They were supposed to arrest the buyers and not allow the guns out of their sights. Newell wanted to follow the guns to their leaders. He was successful in some cases and arrested a few leaders. He allowed these procedures to continue. While some arrests were made, they lost track of many of the weapons. In total, 2020 firearms were "Gun-Walked" and the vast majority were from Agent Newell's group.  While these 2020 firearms are but a small fraction of the weapons shipped to the cartels in Mexico, not all of these weapons have been recovered and one of these weapons was identified in the death of a border agent shot in 2010, about a year after Newell initiated the "Gun-Walking" project.
After the agent was killed, a whistle blower agent wrote to Sen.Grassley to report what happened. Grassley, on the Judiciary Committee contacted Darryl Issa who initiated an investigation who then began the Congressional Hearings.
Agent Newell testified about this before Congress last July, 2011. The NY Times wrote about his testimony here. Agent Newell was under oath as he testified to what happened as were many of his associates.

Though Issa and Grassley know what occurred, for political reasons, they are continuing this Witch Hunt against Attorney General Eric Holder. Even though AG Holder has provided over 7,000 documents, they are demanding more. They've even asked for the names of confidential informants and evidence for future arrest cases of those arrested.
As Issa and Grassley continue to attack AG Holder. Here is what they are forgetting:
1. Project Gunrunner started in 2005, under George Bush
2. The "Gun-Walking" aspect they disagree with occurred in one location by one lead agent
3. The ATF's main objective: Stop the Gun Running to the Cartels in Mexico. Root out the Leaders of the Gun Runners.
4. The Bad Guy shot the gun that shot the agent, not one of the ATF agents. And the gun was one of a huge number of assault weapons carried by those that shot him.

Unfortunately Issa and Grassley and Republicans continue to pander to their Political Benefactors - the NRA and the 1%. They would like to dissolve the ATF. Many may even wonder if they would like to see the expansion of more guns/arms selling.

Napolitano/Holder Keep to Promise! Feds partner with State/Local Authorities to Crack Down on Gangs vs Workers!

Janet Napolitano and Eric Holder, are keeping to their promise to focus on incarcerating Employers and Drug Cartels/Felonious Criminals versus workers. Last Thursday, Federal Authorities in partnership with Local/State authorities in cooperation with Hawaiian Garden's Mayor Michael Gomez, captured and arrested 147 gang members. The charges, part of a massive racketeering case dubbed Operation Knock Out, were outlined in several indictments charging the 147 members and associates of the Varrio Hawaiian Gardens gang with murder, attempted murder, drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, extortion, kidnapping and witness intimidation.

Sal Hernandez, the FBI's top agent in Los Angeles said, "The gang, also known as VHG, is so pervasive in Hawaiian Gardens that it is estimated one in 15 people living in the square-mile city just north of Long Beach has ties to it. With these arrests, the good people will be able to live in peace."

The probe into the gang initially began in 2005 after Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy Jerry Ortiz was fatally shot by a Varrio Hawaiian Gardens gang member he was trying to arrest in connection with the shooting of an African American man. The shooter, a veteran gang member with devil's horns tattooed on his forehead, has been convicted of murder and sentenced to death. U.S. Atty. Thomas P. O'Brien, speaking at a news conference at the Lakewood sheriff's station, where the slain deputy had been assigned, touted the case as the "largest gang takedown in United States history. Today we honor Deputy Ortiz by coming together to crush the outlaw gang that took his life and make a positive difference for the law-abiding people who live in Hawaiian Gardens," said O'Brien, who stood in front of a memorial to Ortiz and other officers killed in the line of duty as he spoke.

The Federal/State/Local policies focusing on felonious criminals and drug cartels are the right path to follow vs the 287(g) Arpaio type policies and ICE Raids focusing on arresting migrant workers. Both PRO and ANTI agree that law enforcement at all levels should focus on capturing felonious criminals vs Racial Profiling of Latinos or targetting workers who have not committed any felonious crimes.

References:

Janet Napolitano Restructures ICE Policies to Focus on Employers, Drug Cartels/Felonious Criminals but Faces Fierce Opposition!

Dozens arrested in crackdown on Latino gang accused of targeting blacks

Latino 'hate gang' busted in L.A.

U.S./Mex Drug Cartels Reign; Mexico/U.S Presidents Partner to Fight; Mexican Residents say, "We Need Gringitos Back!"

Mexico's President Felipe Calderon has staked his reputation on a nationwide army-led crackdown against Drug Cartels. More than 3,000 Mexican troops arrived this weekend in Juárez as part of what authorities have described as a frontal assault on crime. The new soldiers, which are in addition to the 2,000 already assigned to Joint Operation Chihuahua, were deployed after a meeting last week among high-level Mexican government officials in Juárez. More troops, including intelligence units, are expected to arrive in the next few days.
President Barack Obama and head of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, strongly support President Calderon's War on Drugs. Afterall, the U.S. continues to be the Number 1 user of illegal drugs in the World. Attorney General Eric Holder mounted one of the biggest assaults against powerful drug cartels recently. More than 750 people were arrested across the U.S. with tons of cocaine and marijuana seized and the distribution of drugs disrupted through a series of raids and arrests.
The rising tide of Mexican drug cartel-related violence along American's southern border and beyond is, considered by some, a state of war. The U.S. drug cartels are partnering with Mexican Cartels. The U.S. cartels continue to send 2,000 illegal weapons to the Mexican Cartels a day! Mexico's gun laws are relatively strict. Civilians can't own military-style rifles or high-powered pistols and need an O.K. from the military to buy weapons of any kind. U.S. laws, in contrast, are porous. And with almost 7,000 licensed gun dealers along the border, including many operating from homes, trailers or tiny shops in out-of-the-way towns and remote strip malls, tracking sales of guns destined for Mexican gangs is a needle-in-a-haystack sort of problem.
It is commendable that the government of Mexico and President Calderon have taken up the fight against the cartels with a vigor and courage foreign to his predecessors, who were content to exploit the American appetite for drugs and look the other way at their own military and political corruption. But it is obvious Calderon cannot do it alone. He needs a full court crackdown, with the support of the American Government who will arrest the don't-give-a-damn gun-dealers on the U.S. side of the border who are arming Mexican drug terrorists now threatening U.S. communities.
It is clear we ALL should support both President Calderon and President Obama in their charge to stop the Drug Cartels on both sides of the border.
Mexican Economy: "We Need Gringitos Back"
Meanwhile, the local Mexican residents, innocent in all that has been happening, are feeling the pain of the lost tourist revenue. "We need the gringitos to come back," said Maria Guadalupe Santiago Gutierrez. "The violence is not aimed at them, and if you are not involved in the drug business, nothing will happen to you. Please put that in the paper." Santiago used to sell her handmade arts and crafts at the Juárez mercado. Since the tourist trade faded, she has set up shop on the sidewalk within feet of the Paso del Norte Bridge, closer to where visitors might venture. On a good day, she sells five bracelets and charms at $1 each. "People in El Paso don't understand that if they don't come buy things from us, we don't eat," Santiago said.
References:
Mexico troops move in to retake warring border city
U.S. Moves Against Top Mexican Drug Cartel
Recent editorials from New Jersey newspapers
Mexico's military influx leaves a city on edge

Eric Holder Has it Right! Focus on Drug Cartels and Felonious Criminals!

Eric Holder has it right. ICE should focus their energies on Drug Cartels and felonious criminals! All sides agree!

CNN Reports:

Arrests 'crushing blow' to Mexican drug cartel, U.S. officials say

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. investigators have wrapped up a major 21-month drug-enforcement operation aimed at crippling a powerful and violent Mexican cartel operating in the United States, Attorney General Eric Holder announced Wednesday. "Enormous amounts of narcotics" have been confiscated in the operation, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said.
Investigators made 52 arrests in overnight raids in California, Minnesota and Maryland, increasing to more than 750 the number of suspects detained in the coast-to-coast operation to disrupt the Sinaloa cartel, Holder said. Drug Enforcement Administration agents said $59 million has been seized in what was dubbed Operation Xcellerator. Holder heralded the operation and vowed to vigorously help the Mexican government battle the powerful cartels. "International drug trafficking organizations pose a sustained, serious threat to the safety and security of our communities," Holder told reporters.

DEA acting Administrator Michele Leonhart, who joined Holder at the Justice Department for the announcement, said the operation dealt "a crushing blow" to the Sinaloa cartel. "We successfully concluded the largest and hardest-hitting operation to ever target the very violent and dangerously powerful Sinaloa drug cartel," she said. Large amounts of illicit drugs, including 12,000 kilograms of cocaine, 1,200 pounds of methamphetamine and 1.3 million ecstasy pills, were confiscated in the United States during the operation, Holder said. "These are enormous amounts of narcotics -- drugs otherwise destined for the streets of the United States," Holder said.
In two years, cocaine prices more than doubled, while purity dropped by a third, indicating enforcement efforts are having an impact, Leonhart said. "The result of law enforcement pressure is less cocaine on the streets of the United States. That's why the price has been affected. That's why the purity has been affected," she said.
Holder praised Mexican President Felipe Calderon as "courageous" for his willingness to fight the drug cartels, and noted the estimated 5,000 deaths that resulted from drug battles in that country last year. DEA agents said fierce fighting between the two most powerful Mexican cartels -- the Sinaloa cartel, known as "the Federation," and the Gulf Cartel -- was largely about control of transportation routes for illegal drug trafficking.
Wednesday's announcement comes as increased violence along the Mexican border is prompting concern among state and federal officials in the United States. In Texas, Gov. Rick Perry called on the Department of Homeland Security to send "1,000 more troops" to the border in his state. "I don't care whether they are military troops, or National Guard troops or whether they are customs agents," he said.
Meanwhile in Washington, the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee urged Democrats to call a hearing on border violence to highlight the threat. "The recent surge in drug-related violence on the Southwest border has turned some American communities and neighborhoods into the "Wild West," said Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas.

House Judiciary Committee asks Holder and Napolitano to Investigate Arpaio for his Racial Profiling and other Wrongdoings!

More Great News: The House Judiciary Committee has asked Eric Holder and Janet Napolitano to investigate Sheriff Arpaio's Racial Profiling and other misconduct! Hurray!! Perhaps Arpaio and his masked henchmen will finally receive the penalties they deserve!

God Bless America!!

Press Release from the House Judiciary Committee:

WASHINGTON – House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.), and Immigration Subcommittee Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), Constitution Subcommittee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), and Crime Subcommittee Chairman Bobby Scott (D-Va.) called on Attorney General Eric Holder and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to investigate allegations of misconduct by Maricopa County (Arizona) Sheriff Joe Arpaio.
Sheriff Arpaio has repeatedly demonstrated disregard for the rights of Hispanics in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Under the guise of immigration enforcement, his staff has conducted raids in residential neighborhoods in a manner condemned by the community as racial profiling. On February 4, 2009, Arpaio invited the media to view the transfer of immigrant detainees to a segregated area of his "tent city" jail, subjecting the detainees to public display and "ritual humiliation." Persistent actions such as these have resulted in numerous lawsuits; while Arpaio spends time and energy on publicity and his reality television show, "Smile… You’re Under Arrest!", Maricopa County has paid millions of dollars in settlements involving dead or injured inmates.
"Racial profiling and segregation are simply not acceptable." said Conyers. "Media stunts and braggadocio are no substitute for fair and effective law enforcement."
"The basic premise of our justice system is that people are innocent until proven otherwise," said Rep. Zoe Lofgren. "I’m concerned that in Maricopa County that basic premise appears to have been turned upside down and that Latino members of community are considered "undocumented" until proven otherwise. That’s not how our Constitution works and it’s time for the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security to take a closer look."
"We cannot tolerate vigilantes using the police power to violate the fundamental rights of anyone they can get their hands on," said Nadler. "Sheriff Arpaio has consistently abused his office in violation of federal law. It is time for the federal government to step in and uphold the rule of law in this country, even in Maricopa County." "Law enforcement is not a game or a reality show, it is a public trust," said Scott. "There is no excuse for callous indifference to the rights of the residents of Arizona, whether in their neighborhoods or as pretrial detainees."

Sheriff Arpaio Takes On President Obama and AG Eric Holder! Oh My!

Sheriff Joe Arpaio says "I´m Not Stopping!" and he plans to continue (Racial Profiling) crime sweeps and raids aimed at illegal immigrants and businesses that employ them regardless of any changes made by President Obama or A.G. Eric Holder.
The Phoenix Business Journal Reports:
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio says scrutiny of racial and ethnic profiling by incoming President Barack Obama and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder will not deter his get-tough approach to illegal immigration.
“I’m not stopping,” said Arpaio. The Republican sheriff said he plans to continue crime sweeps and raids aimed at illegal immigrants and businesses that employ them. The Obama administration and Holder are expected to increase the focus on racial and ethnic profiling by police. Critics of Arpaio’s immigration enforcement argue the sheriff’s office targets Hispanics and such actions take away from more serious investigations. Arpaio said his immigration sweeps are nondiscriminatory and if people have complaints they can contact federal authorities. “Go ahead and take them to the FBI,” said Arpaio, who just won reelection to a fifth term. Arpaio said another immigration sweep will soon occur. The U.S. Justice Department under Obama is expected to put a greater focus on discrimination, corporate corruption and consumer protection cases compared with the Bush administration’s priorities in national security, child pornography, sex rings and immigration. Public opinion polls generally show support in Maricopa County for Arpaio’s get-tough policies.
There are an estimated 579,000 illegal immigrants in Arizona, most coming from Mexico, according to the Center for Immigration Studies. The U.S. recession and housing troubles have reduced the flow of migrants and sent some undocumented workers back to that country. Arizona also is a key entry point into the U.S. for drug traffickers and other smugglers as northern Mexico cities are besieged by drug cartels, which reach into the Phoenix area with gun purchases and other activity.

Meanwhile his deputies make veiled threats about the President!

The Phoenix New Times Blog reports:..Arizona ACORN director Monica Sandschafer on the porch of the dreaded Fourth Avenue Jail, moments after she had been released after spending a day in stir, she related the following. Seems she was checking out of the facility, when the deputy overseeing her paperwork struck up a political conversation with her, noting that, "You guys [ACORN members] are all for Obama." Sandschafer suggested that this was not a bad thing as Obama won the election, right? The deputy's response was right out of the Lee Harvey Oswald joke book. "He goes, `Oh, well, for a short time anyway...he (Obama) might suffer from the JFK syndrome,'" recounted Sandschafer. "And I said, `Well, let's hope not,'" Sandschafer told the deputy, who then went on to inform her that he'd voted for Bush three times, apparently referring to Bushes I and II.

Some in Maricopa county are calling Arpaio a cross between Bull Connor and Judge Roy Bean! If they add a dash of the Cowardly Lion, they might be right!!

Arpaio´s Racial Profiling Crap About to Hit the Holder Fan!

Eric Holder, Obama´s choice for Attorney General will bring fresh eyes to Sheriff Arpaio´s history of Racial Profiling, including the 4 current Racial Profiling suits against him. Holder is a long time advocate of ending Racial Profiling. It looks like Arpaio´s Racial Profiling Crap is about to Hit the Holder Fan!!

Arizona Republic reports:

Arpaio's sweeps to get fresh scrutiny?

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's crackdown on illegal immigrants could get greater scrutiny from federal investigators under President-elect Barack Obama's administration, criminal-justice experts say. A telltale clue to that possibility is Obama's top choice to head the U.S. Justice Department, Eric Holder, who has a track record of investigating the kind of racial-profiling allegations leveled at Arpaio's crime and immigration sweeps. Arpaio denies his deputies have stopped or arrested people based on race.

As deputy attorney general in the Clinton administration, Holder played a key role in the Justice Department's investigation of the New Jersey state police in the late 1990s that showed officers were disproportionately stopping Blacks for minor traffic stops to look for drugs. During a Senate subcommittee hearing involving the investigation, Holder, who is an African-American and the son of an immigrant from Barbados, said he had become particularly sensitive to complaints of racial profiling after New Jersey police searched his trunk for guns when he was a college student. He said he believed the incident stemmed from racial profiling.
The Justice Department's investigation led to New Jersey state police signing a consent decree that required officers to fully document all traffic stops as part of an effort to ensure they weren't stopping motorists on the basis of race. The department's civil-rights division under Democratic President Clinton launched several investigations of local police departments accused of using racial profiling. Such investigations fell dormant under Republican President Bush's administration. With Obama, "I expect that the rules will change somewhat and you will probably see a more active role of the Justice Department investigating cases of police misconduct across the board," said Michael Smith, chairman of the criminology and criminal-justice department at the University of South Carolina.

Allegations
In April, Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon wrote a letter to U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey asking that the Justice Department's civil-rights division and the FBI investigate Arpaio's immigration crackdowns. He alleged that the sweeps included "a pattern and practice of conduct that includes discriminatory harassment, improper stops, searches and arrests." Gordon sent the letter after Arpaio moved dozens of deputies into neighborhoods with large Latino populations in Phoenix and Guadalupe to conduct what the sheriff called crime-suppression patrols. The patrols ignited an outcry from Latino community leaders and immigrant advocates, who accused deputies of pulling over people who looked Latino in order to look for illegal immigrants. Four U.S. citizens and a legal immigrant have filed a lawsuit against Arpaio, accusing him and deputies of violating their civil rights in connection with the immigration crackdowns.
An Arizona Republic examination of arrest logs from eight crime sweeps showed that deputies arrested more Latinos than non-Latinos during each of the operations; that even when the patrols were held in mostly White areas deputies arrested more Latinos than non-Latinos; and that deputies arrested Latinos in greater numbers than non-Latinos following minor traffic violations.
Gordon said he believes that under the Obama administration, the Justice Department will take a harder look at the concerns raised in his letter. "The ball for civil rights has started rolling, and I'm confident that under soon-to-be Attorney General Holder, it will be rolling faster here and across the nation," Gordon said.
Hector Yturralde, president of Somos America, an immigrant-advocacy group that is one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, said he expects the Justice Department to pay more attention to complaints of racial profiling against Arpaio's department. "We do have high aspirations of this new attorney general because something has to be done. So far our cries have fallen on deaf ears," Yturralde said.
Arpaio said he is not concerned that his office could face greater scrutiny under the Obama administration.
"I don't care," Arpaio said. "I feel very comfortable with the way we do things. . . . I have confidence in my deputies, and nothing is going to change. I am going to continue my operations even though the administration is going to change." Scot Montrey, a spokesman for the Justice Department's civil-rights division, said the allegations of racial profiling against Arpaio's office were being reviewed to determine whether any action should be taken. Arpaio said he doesn't believe the Justice Department is looking any further into Gordon's letter because the complaints have no merit. "It hasn't gone anywhere because there is nothing to it," Arpaio said. Brian Withrow, a criminal-justice professor at Wichita State University, said that earlier this month he attended a national conference of the American Society of Criminology in St. Louis.
"The consensus of that group was that we will see more of a desire of this new administration to litigate these (racial profiling) cases than the current administration," Withrow said. "The president-elect has already said he intends to beef up the civil-rights division of the Department of Justice, and that is the department most likely to investigate."