A federal civil-rights investigation has been launched against the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.
Since March, federal investigators have been looking into the boards alleged failure to provide Spanish language interpreters at public meetings.
Word of the investigation surfaced Tuesday when Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas published a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice offering cooperation. He claimed his office was only informed of the investigation last week, when county officials approached it for legal help.
In December 2007, community activist Silverio Garcia tried to address the board in Spanish.
Garcia claimed Supervisors Andrew Kunasek and Max Wilson made remarks that he should speak English.
Garcia then filed a complaint with the Department of Justice.
