Submission + - AZ prosecutor, sheriff go after local newspaper
Nothanksidontwanttogotojail writes: According to the Phoenix New Times, CNN, and elsewhere, Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas has been targeting the New Times for information relating to their readership, both online and in print:
"In a breathtaking abuse of the United States Constitution, Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas, and their increasingly unhinged cat's paw, special prosecutor Dennis Wilenchik, used the grand jury to subpoena "all documents related to articles and other content published by Phoenix New Times newspaper in print and on the Phoenix New Times website, regarding Sheriff Joe Arpaio from January 1, 2004 to the present" . . . More alarming still, Arpaio, Thomas, and Wilenchik subpoenaed detailed information on anyone who has looked at the New Times Web site since 2004."
Since the publication of the story, New Times founders Michael Lacey and Jim Larkin were arrested early this morning, then subsequently released.
The arrest of Lacey and Larkin are apparently part of a continuing attempt by law enforcement in Maricopa County to stamp out any dissent in their heavy-handed approach to law enforcement. Thomas, who it is believed has never tried an adult felony case by himself, is rumored to have aspirations to higher office (Governor?), used a populist anti-immigration policy to gain his current position as top prosecutor in the county, and has recently failed at trying to get the associate presiding judge to recuse himself from all criminal cases. Thomas and Wilenchik are currently being investigated by the Arizona State bar for misconduct.
"In a breathtaking abuse of the United States Constitution, Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas, and their increasingly unhinged cat's paw, special prosecutor Dennis Wilenchik, used the grand jury to subpoena "all documents related to articles and other content published by Phoenix New Times newspaper in print and on the Phoenix New Times website, regarding Sheriff Joe Arpaio from January 1, 2004 to the present" . . . More alarming still, Arpaio, Thomas, and Wilenchik subpoenaed detailed information on anyone who has looked at the New Times Web site since 2004."
Since the publication of the story, New Times founders Michael Lacey and Jim Larkin were arrested early this morning, then subsequently released.
The arrest of Lacey and Larkin are apparently part of a continuing attempt by law enforcement in Maricopa County to stamp out any dissent in their heavy-handed approach to law enforcement. Thomas, who it is believed has never tried an adult felony case by himself, is rumored to have aspirations to higher office (Governor?), used a populist anti-immigration policy to gain his current position as top prosecutor in the county, and has recently failed at trying to get the associate presiding judge to recuse himself from all criminal cases. Thomas and Wilenchik are currently being investigated by the Arizona State bar for misconduct.
