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House Panel Presses Case to End MCSO Federal Monitor at Phoenix Hearing

Republicans argued the monitor drains resources, with an audit challenging the county’s cost claims.

Overview

  • U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs led a House Judiciary field hearing at the Arizona Senate titled “The Monitoring Racket: The Grift That Keeps on Giving.”
  • The Justice Department has signaled support for ending federal supervision as Maricopa County petitions the court to lift oversight.
  • Monitoring invoices total about $32 million, while county officials cite more than $300 million in overall costs that an independent audit says were heavily misattributed.
  • Judge Murray Snow has credited progress at the Sheriff’s Office but has not found full compliance, with cited issues including stop disparities and a backlog of internal investigations.
  • Community members and civil-rights advocates rallied outside the Capitol urging continued independent oversight and voicing distrust of Sheriff Jerry Sheridan.