The polarizing former Arizona sheriff and early ally of President Donald Trump, Joe Arpaio, is suing The New York Times and an editorial staff member for libel, according to documents filed Tuesday evening.
Arpaio, who has been the subject of numerous allegations for his conduct as sheriff of Maricopa County, alleges a column written by NYT editorial board member Michelle Cottle “contains several false, defamatory factual assertions.”
Cottle’s column, “Well, at Least Sheriff Joe Isn’t Going to Congress: Arpaio’s loss in Arizona’s Senate Republican primary is a fitting end to the public life of a truly sadistic man,” was published earlier in 2018 after Arpaio’s failed Senate run. (RELATED: Sheriff Joe Arpaio Planning Senate Run in 2018)
The suit claims the column hurt his reputation both in the law enforcement community and with GOP donors, making any future runs for federal office much more difficult.
President Donald Trump answers questions from reporters after being endorsed by Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio (L) before a campaign rally in Marshalltown, Iowa January 26, 2016. REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo
Arpaio was convicted of contempt of court in July 2017 before receiving a pardon from Trump in August.
“We intend to vigorously defend against the lawsuit,” NYT spokeswoman Eileen Murphy told Politico.
Arpaio is seeking a staggering $147.5 million in damages from both TheNYT, and Cottle and is currently represented by the chairman of the conservative interest group Freedom Watch, Larry Klayman.
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