Ariz. Sheriff Joe Arpaio Challenges Justice Dept.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County, Arizona, is challenging the Justice Department's request for certain documents in its investigation of alleged civil rights violations by the sheriff's office.

In a letter to the Justice Department on Friday, Sheriff Arpaio's attorney said the sheriff could not agree to the Justice Department's September deadline to supply all documents requested for its investigation and questioned the government's pursuit of broad access to documents, personnel and facilities in the inquiry.

The letter, from sheriff's office attorney Robert Driscoll, alleged that the Justice Department's position that it is "entitled to any document it wants, to access any facility it wishes, and to interview any witness it wants, without limitation... is simply unreasonable."

The Obama administration is investigating whether Sheriff Arpaio's policies and law enforcement sweeps discriminate against Hispanics.

The Justice Department has been investigating Sheriff Arpaio since President Obama took office.

Justice Department officials met Tuesday with Sheriff Arpaio and his lawyers to request additional documents in their investigation. The department formalized the request in a letter to the sheriff's lawyers Wednesday.

The letter told the sheriff's office to deliver the documents by September 10.

On Saturday, Justice Department officials said they expect to receive the documents by September 10, despite the letter Friday from Sheriff Arpaio's attorney.

"We expect the sheriff's office to provide nothing short of full compliance," said a Justice Department official. "If it doesn't turn over the documents, the government may take action against the sheriff's office."

Sheriff Arpaio, called by many as "America's toughest sheriff," is known for his hard-nosed opposition to illegal immigration.

Brian Blackwell