Federal prosecutors in Arizona will not be deciding whether to file criminal contempt and perjury charges against Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio.
Instead, according to a U.S. District Court filing Friday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will bow out because of conflicts of interest, sending the case to Justice Department lawyers in Washington, D.C.
A memo attached to Friday’s court filing says Andrew Goldsmith, associate deputy attorney general, approved recusal by U.S. Attorney John Leonardo and his entire staff “based on existing conflicts of interest or the appearance of conflicts.”
