Arizona Republic:  “Alleging widespread conspiracy, Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas and Sheriff Joe Arpaio filed a civil suit in U.S. District Court on Tuesday against county administrators, elected officials, judges and attorneys.  Those defendants, they say, are violating federal racketeering laws by hindering criminal investigations and depriving their offices of resources.  County officials dismissed the claim as frivolous, saying Arpaio and Thomas have routinely lost on similar claims in state and local courts.”