READ: Arpaio & Friends' Criminal Contempt Investigation Goes To Washington; U.S. Attorney's Office For Arizona Recuses Itself

With no explanation given, the U.S. Attorney's Office for Arizona - John Leonardo is the U.S. Attorney for Arizona - has recused itself from "the investigation and potential prosecution" of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio (and three others) for criminal contempt of court.  Instead, the U.S. Department of Justice's Criminal Division - Public Integrity Section - will handle the explosive matter.

The memorandum indicates that the change was approved because of "existing conflicts of interest or the appearance of conflicts of interest pertaining to the matter."

District Court Judge G. Murray Snow referred the case to Leonardo's office last Friday. District Court Judge Susan Bolton will be the judge presiding over the matter.

Of course, the next question will be how fast the investigation will proceed. The current Attorney General is Loretta Lynch. If GOP Presidential nominee Donald Trump wins the White House in November, there will be a new decision-making regime at the DOJ in January.

Earlier today, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors announced that they will be meeting in executive session Monday morning to discuss the Melendres v. Arpaio case.

  USAO for AZ Recuses by arizonaspolitics on Scribd

h/t to the Associated Press for first reporting the recusal.

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