Earlier this week, a three-judge disciplinary panel stripped former Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas of his license to practice law after Thomas launched unjustified prosecutions against his political enemies. Prior to his fall from grace, Thomas was a top ally to anti-immigrant Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio.
At a press conference following his disbarment, Thomas was far from contrite:
“Other men, far greater than I, have gone to jail in defense of principles they believed in and so they would not kowtow to a corrupt ruler,” Thomas said at one point. “People like Gandhi, people like Dr. King, people like Solzhenitsyn, people like Thomas More, people who stood for something….and I’m going to stand firm.”
“Gandhi?” wondered one onlooker in amazement.
Watch it:
Sheriff Arpaio Defends Former County Attorney: MyFoxPHOENIX.com
For the record, Gandhi freed a nation from colonial oppression through a campaign of non-violence. Dr. King stared down angry mobs and jailers to bring out Constitution’s promise of equality to all Americans. Solzhenitsyn was imprisoned in a Soviet labor camp for daring to criticize Josef Stalin. Thomas More was executed by decapitation because he refused to abandon his religious beliefs. Andrew Thomas abused his power for personal political gain.
One of these things is not like the others.
[HT: Kyrsten Sinema]
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