UPDATE: Sheriff Joe Arpaio denies he authorized e-mail making bogus voter fraud claims in voter suppression effort

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

But will he disavow his relationship as the honorary co-chairman of this vigilante group?

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's name was "mistakenly" signed onto a fundraising e-mail by a group that warned that illegal immigrants were compromising the upcoming election. Group used Arpaio's name without permission:

Ban Amnesty Now President Sean McCaffrey said Friday that his group mocked up the e-mail in Arpaio's name, but never sought the sheriff's approval and that it was sent to 1 percent to 2 percent of the 1.3 million people on its distribution list.

"The content of the e-mail, I stand by it," said McCaffrey, who later put his own name on the e-mail after the mistake was discovered. "It came as a complete surprise to Sheriff Joe and his team."

McCaffrey, whose group opposes amnesty for illegal immigrants, said he called Arpaio to apologize for Tuesday's e-mail and that the sheriff has taken a leave as the organization's honorary co-chairman.

Sheriff's office spokes-man Jesse Spurgin confirmed the group never sought Arpaio's approval, but didn't know whether the sheriff was still involved with the group.

Earlier this week, Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett tried to quell rumors that activist groups have registered thousands of illegal immigrants in the state. He had said inquiries by his office and local officials indicated that allegations of voter-registration fraud in Yuma County or elsewhere are without merit.

UPDATE: The Arizona Guardian (subscription required) now reports that Sheriff Joe Arpaio has severed his ties to this vigilante group. Arpaio quits immigration group; voter fraud claims persist:

Days after launching his own fundraising effort, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio has severed ties to an anti-immigration group that used his name on a mass email without permission.

The Arizona Capitol Times (subscription required) similarly reports Arpaio splits with illegal-immigration group:

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio severed his ties with an anti-illegal immigration group over a mass email that went out to thousands of people under his name.