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| Joe Arpaio: Barack Obama birth proof 'may be forged' | Joe Arpaio: Barack Obama birth proof 'may be forged' |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The birth certificate of US President Barack Obama could be a forgery, a controversial Arizona sheriff claims. | The birth certificate of US President Barack Obama could be a forgery, a controversial Arizona sheriff claims. |
| Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County - who styles himself as America's toughest - unveiled the results of a probe into the origins of the document. | Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County - who styles himself as America's toughest - unveiled the results of a probe into the origins of the document. |
| His investigators found "probable cause" the certificate may have been made by "forgery and fraud", he said. | His investigators found "probable cause" the certificate may have been made by "forgery and fraud", he said. |
| Mr Arpaio, known for his tough stance on immigration, is being investigated over allegations of racial profiling. | Mr Arpaio, known for his tough stance on immigration, is being investigated over allegations of racial profiling. |
| The US justice department alleges that his office routinely discriminated against Latinos. | The US justice department alleges that his office routinely discriminated against Latinos. |
| He also faces a federal grand jury investigation into the activities of his anti-corruption unit, and a forthcoming re-election bid in Maricopa County. | He also faces a federal grand jury investigation into the activities of his anti-corruption unit, and a forthcoming re-election bid in Maricopa County. |
| Tea Party request | Tea Party request |
| Announcing the findings of his volunteer "Cold Case Posse", Mr Arpaio, 79, said analysis of an electronic copy of Mr Obama's birth certificate had revealed strong doubts about its authenticity. | Announcing the findings of his volunteer "Cold Case Posse", Mr Arpaio, 79, said analysis of an electronic copy of Mr Obama's birth certificate had revealed strong doubts about its authenticity. |
| "Based on all of the evidence presented and investigated I cannot in good faith report to you that these documents are authentic," Mr Arpaio said. | "Based on all of the evidence presented and investigated I cannot in good faith report to you that these documents are authentic," Mr Arpaio said. |
| "My investigators believe that the long-form birth certificate was manufactured electronically and that it did not originate in a paper format as claimed by the White House." | "My investigators believe that the long-form birth certificate was manufactured electronically and that it did not originate in a paper format as claimed by the White House." |
| The White House released Mr Obama's long-form birth certificate in April 2011 amid suggestions by conspiracy theorists that he might not be a natural born US citizen. | |
| That would make Mr Obama, whose father is Kenyan, ineligible to hold the office of president. | That would make Mr Obama, whose father is Kenyan, ineligible to hold the office of president. |
| The release of the birth certificate appeared to placate some so-called "birthers", among them businessman and reality TV star Donald Trump, who had publicly called for greater clarity. | The release of the birth certificate appeared to placate some so-called "birthers", among them businessman and reality TV star Donald Trump, who had publicly called for greater clarity. |
| But Mr Arpaio said he had begun an investigation during 2011 after requests from Arizona Tea Party members. | But Mr Arpaio said he had begun an investigation during 2011 after requests from Arizona Tea Party members. |
| According to the sheriff, the investigators compared the electronic copy of Mr Obama's birth certificate with one known to be genuine. | According to the sheriff, the investigators compared the electronic copy of Mr Obama's birth certificate with one known to be genuine. |
| The conclusion that "probable cause" existed warranted a criminal investigation and greater scrutiny of presidential candidates, Mr Arpaio said. | The conclusion that "probable cause" existed warranted a criminal investigation and greater scrutiny of presidential candidates, Mr Arpaio said. |
| "If nothing else comes out of the investigation… what we have learned, we need a better process to vet people running for president of the United States of America," he said. | "If nothing else comes out of the investigation… what we have learned, we need a better process to vet people running for president of the United States of America," he said. |
| Critics have suggested that Mr Arpaio launched his probe into Mr Obama's birth certificate to distract attention from his legal wrangles, as well as to aid his upcoming re-election bid. | Critics have suggested that Mr Arpaio launched his probe into Mr Obama's birth certificate to distract attention from his legal wrangles, as well as to aid his upcoming re-election bid. |
| But the sheriff denied those accusations, telling reporters at his news conference on Thursday: "I'm not going after Obama. I'm just doing my job." | But the sheriff denied those accusations, telling reporters at his news conference on Thursday: "I'm not going after Obama. I'm just doing my job." |