Sherrif's Request for Public Records to Cost Taxpayers $1 M.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio is spending close to $1 million in taxpayer money on what some say are calling a political witch hunt, according to Maricopa County’s Litigation Director.

“What we've heard from people is that they think it's about intimidation, they think it's just harassment, they think it's a fishing expedition,” Wade Swanson said.

The sheriff submitted a public records request Jan. 30 asking for every e-mail, calendar and phone record for 36 county employees.

The county budget office estimates gathering and reviewing the approximately 500,000 documents will cost taxpayers $911,157.

The county is legally obligated to fulfill the request.

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