Newly hired lawyers for former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio asked in a federal court filing on Wednesday that Attorney General Jeff Sessions be called as a supplemental witness in the Arizona law man’s criminal contempt trial.
The move comes a week after Arpaio’s top defense attorney left the case, forcing the ex-sheriff to hire two new attorneys who have a new strategy for their client. Arpaio was charged with one count of criminal contempt for failing to follow a judge’s order to stop his immigration enforcement operations, which were found to have racially profiled Hispanics.
Sessions was in Arizona earlier this week for a tour of the U.S.-Mexico border. His trip to the west included three stops in Arizona, though it’s unknown whether he met with Arpaio at any point during the visit.
It’s unclear what the former Alabama senator would say about Arpaio since both share similar views on immigration policy, but no known personal relationship.
Arpaio’s case had been set for April 25 and was moved to June. Sessions is considered unlikely to testify.
