Russell Pearce—former Arizona state senator, sponsor of arch-anti-immigrant bill SB 1070—defeated last fall in a historic recall election.
Paul Babeu—hardline anti-immigrant sheriff of Pinal County, famous for the “complete the danged fence” ad he shot with John McCain—tarred this year for certain…indiscretions, and now on the defensive with both his current post and his race for a House seat.
And now, Andrew Thomas, right-hand attorney man for notorious Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, disbarred yesterday for serious charges of corruption and intimidation.
It has not been a good few months for Arizona officials. And poor Sheriff Arpaio must feel like his closest allies are dropping all around him.
Officials and opponents want him to know he’s cornered. Via AP:
“Sheriff Arpaio is the next big step,” said Mary Rose Wilcox, a Maricopa County official who has been at odds with the sheriff and his allies. “He will fall.”
It’s only a matter of time, too, considering the Justice Department last week decided to sue Arpaio for “wasting time” and “not negotiating in good faith” after a federal investigation into his department’s practices led officials to demand serious reform.