The Bishop and the Butterfly: Murder, Politics, and the End of the Jazz Age

    Maricopa County Attorney is promoting right-wing talk show host's book on illegal immigration; hot on heels of news that he doles racketeering funds to religious groups

    By azpaull on Fri, 07/18/2008 - 8:27pm |

    A few weeks ago, the Phoenix New Times exposed the County Attorney's propensity to use seized racketeering funds to organizations committed to "bring(ing) sinners to Christ" - a key constituency going into his re-election campaign this fall.   http://phoenixnewtimes.com/2008-06-05/news/andrew-thomas-spends-public-money-to-bring-sinners-to-christ/

    Now, County Atty Andrew Thomas is apparently spending office money to "present" a "book signing" of a local talk show host and his tale of investigating the issue of illegal immigration by crossing the border undercover.  The KTAR website is unclear as to what money the MCAO is using to go into the business of promoting private authors, but it is not worded in a way to indicate that it is private campaign money. 

    Thomas and Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio seem to have come to the conclusion that book-signing appearances for books aimed at their followers  are a valuable tool in their campaigns - Arpaio has his own book out, and is campaigning/hawking around the county.  But, using public funds for book-signings is taking it to another level of sleaziness.