Enlarge By Sandy Huffaker, Getty Images Sheriff Joe Arpaio listens to his cellphone. USA TODAY OPINION USA TODAY OPINION Columns In addition to its own editorials, USA TODAY publishes a variety of opinions from outside writers. On political and policy matters, we publish opinions from across the political spectrum. Roughly half of our columns come from our Board of Contributors, a group whose interests range from education to religion to sports to the economy. Their charge is to chronicle American culture by telling the stories, large and small, that collectively make us what we are. We also publish weekly columns by Al Neuharth, USA TODAY's founder, and DeWayne Wickham, who writes primarily on matters of race but on other subjects as well. That leaves plenty of room for other views from across the nation by well-known and lesser-known names alike. Contributors Board

How to submit a column The Justice Department recently took the unprecedented step of suing Joe Arpaio , the sheriff of Maricopa County , Ariz., for not cooperating with a federal inquiry. Assistant Attorney General Thomas Perez said, "It is unfortunate that the department was forced to resort to litigation to gain access to public documents and facilities" as part of a civil rights investigation. It is unfortunate, yet necessary. "I'm not going to be intimidated by the federal government going to court against us," Arpaio said last month. The probe into his office has gone on for over a year and a half. Arpaio is one of the USA's most visible foes of illegal immigration. He houses prisoners in huge tent cities and makes them wear pink underwear. On his website, he brags that his cost for feeding each prisoner is 15 cents a meal and that he uses women in chain gangs. But does his office engage in racial profiling? Does he discriminate against Latino inmates? That's what the Justice Department wants to know — and Arpaio should cooperate. In fact, as a condition of receiving federal money, his office agreed to comply with all inquiries under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin. If Arpaio continues to defy the feds, Maricopa County could lose up to $113 million in federal funds. Arpaio complains that the requests for information have been too broad. And though he claims that the inquiry is politically motivated, the preliminary investigation began during the Bush administration. Arpaio is popular in his home state, but for all his tough talk, his record is troubling. He admitted on Larry King Live that his office arrests "very few" non-Hispanics, although they make up three-fourths of Arizona's population. In 2008, the Goldwater Institute, a conservative think tank, judged his policies to be ineffective, harmful and a waste of taxpayer money.Statistics from the Arizona Department of Public Safety show that, from 2002 through 2009, violent crime was down across the state — except in Maricopa County. True, the U.S. Marshal's Service just gave Arpaio favorable ratings in audits of his facilities — for the second year in a row.So why doesn't he give the Justice Department what they want and clear his name? I see great irony here; the sheriff who loves to ask people for their papers doesn't seem to like having to show his. If Arpaio has nothing to hide, he should cooperate and vindicate himself. To do otherwise is obstructing justice. And no one, not even "America's Toughest Sheriff," is above the law. Raul Reyes is an attorney in New York and a member of USA TODAY's Board of Contributors. Guidelines: You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. Read more