Sen. Bernie Sanders slammed Sheriff Joe Arpaio late Thursday for actions during a face-to-face meeting with Sanders’ wife that he views as “un-American.”
His wife, Jane, had visited the Maricopa County Jail Monday to examine what she believes are “inhumane” conditions. She wasn’t expecting to meet Sheriff Joe there, but after finding out about her visit he decided to give her a “personal tour.”
“She asked him about racial profiling, and he didn’t have an answer,” said Sanders at an Arizona rally. The state holds their primary on Tuesday. (RELATED: Hillary: ‘I Think We’ve Done A Really Good Job Securing The Border’)
The Vermont senator continued on to say, “she asked him about conditions in Tent City and other abuses that he has perpetuated, and he didn’t have an answer. You know what, he cannot have an answer, because what he is doing is un-American and uncivilized.”
Sanders wasn’t the only critic of the meeting between his wife and Arpaio. Though this criticism came from Clinton supporters attacking Mrs. Sanders instead of Arpaio.
Rep. Luis Gutiérrez, who has endorsed Clinton, told Bloomberg Tuesday: “When Jane Sanders visited Joe Arpaio’s inhumane detention center, the Sanders campaign had a chance to tell Arpaio to his face that he was wrong and that he needed to resign—as many of us have said for years. Instead, they heard him out, thanked him for his ‘hospitality’ and, contrary to their claims, made their criticisms through a press release and a series of tweets.”
Jane Sanders did in fact criticize Arpaio after their meeting in a series of tweets.
Sheriff Joe Arpaio showed up unexpectedly and I asked him several questions to which he had no answers.
— Jane O’Meara Sanders (@janeosanders) March 15, 2016
I asked about racial profiling, “Papers Please,” and deputizing civilians to round up undocumented people. He declined to answer.
— Jane O’Meara Sanders (@janeosanders) March 15, 2016
He admitted that the temperature in the tents were up to 130 degrees in the summer. He told me he took all meat out of the prisoner’s meals.
— Jane O’Meara Sanders (@janeosanders) March 15, 2016
Bernie has throughout the campaign pushed for giving citizenship to illegal aliens. At the Thursday Arizona rally he said, “If elected president, we are going to pass comprehensive immigration reform and a path toward citizenship, whether Mr. Arpaio likes it or not.”
Arpaio has drawn the ire of illegal-immigrant activists for his aggressive tactics to detain illegal aliens, which includes workplace raids with arrests on television. (RELATED: Sheriff Joe Arpaio Endorses Donald Trump)
“It’s easy for bullies like Sheriff Arpaio to pick on people who have no power, but if I’m elected president, the president of the United States does have the power,” said Sanders.
He added, “Watch out, Joe!”