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Lawyers representing Maricopa County Sheriff Joseph M. Arpaio accused Justice Department and Homeland Security officials yesterday of having political motivations in a federal probe of Arpaio, reports the Washington Post.

Arpaio, currently the subject of three federal investigations, is famous for his “unique” treatment methods of prisoners.  The investigations seek to determine if Arpaio’s pursuit of illegal immigrants violated civil rights laws or federal rules.

Robert Driscoll, who served as a civil rights official at the Justice Department early in the Bush administration, said he was seeking “assurances that political rivalries and score settling played no role in the investigations.”

The Arpaio probe began in March, on the heels of calls from Senate Judiciary Democrats for investigations of improper searches and seizures by police officers, including cases involving discrimination.  The investigation was also included in a list of accomplishments by the Justice Department during President Obama’s first 100 days.

Read the full story here.