Joe Arpaio vows to renew attacks on Obama's birth certificate if elected to Senate


Former Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio is not concerned with your debunking.
Arpaio told a small group of Arizona conservatives last week that he will continue to question the legitimacy of former President Barack Obama's birth certificate. He is "kind of dropping" the claims for now, he said, but will renew focus on the "fake document" if he succeeds in his bid for a Senate seat.
Arpaio, who was convicted of criminal contempt after disregarding a court order to stop racial profiling in his crackdown on illegal immigration, is now running in the Arizona Senate race. President Trump pardoned Arpaio last summer, sparing him a jail sentence for his conviction.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
While working as sheriff, Arpaio launched an investigation into a widely debunked conspiracy theory involving the supposed forgery of Obama's birth certificate. Arpaio's probe apparently concluded back in 2016, but while speaking to supporters at a conference last weekend, he pledged to renew his attacks.
"I don't talk about it anymore, until I become a U.S. senator," said Arpaio, to applause. "I'm kind of dropping that right now, but I'm going to tell you something, 100 percent we proved that's a fake document. One hundred."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Summer Meza has worked at The Week since 2018, serving as a staff writer, a news writer and currently the deputy editor. As a proud news generalist, she edits everything from political punditry and science news to personal finance advice and film reviews. Summer has previously written for Newsweek and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, covering national politics, transportation and the cannabis industry.
-
5 explosively funny cartoons about the 4th of July
Cartoons Artists take on liberty and justice for all, a terrifying firework, and more
-
Jeff in Venice: a "triumph of tackiness"?
In the Spotlight Locals protest as Bezos uses the city as a 'private amusement park' for his wedding celebrations
-
Sudoku medium: July 5, 2025
The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
-
Judge blocks Trump's asylum ban at US border
Speed Read The president violated federal law by shutting down the US-Mexico border to asylum seekers, said the ruling
-
Thai court suspends prime minister over leaked call
Speed Read Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended, pending an ethics investigation
-
Senate passes GOP megabill after Alaska side deal
The pivotal yes vote came from Sen. Lisa Murkowski, whose support was secured following negotiated side deals for her home state Alaska
-
Trump sues LA over immigration policies
Speed Read He is suing over the city's sanctuary law, claiming it prevents local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities
-
Obama, Bush and Bono eulogize USAID on final day
Speed Read The US Agency for International Development, a humanitarian organization, has been gutted by the Trump administration
-
The last words and final moments of 40 presidents
The Explainer Some are eloquent quotes worthy of the holders of the highest office in the nation, and others... aren't
-
Senate advances GOP bill that costs more, cuts more
Speed Read The bill would make giant cuts to Medicaid and food stamps, leaving 11.8 million fewer people with health coverage
-
Canadian man dies in ICE custody
Speed Read A Canadian citizen with permanent US residency died at a federal detention center in Miami