Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio will be charged with criminal contempt of court over immigration patrols, Federal prosecutors said. If convicted, Arpaio could spend up to six months in jail.

The announcement was made the day ahead early voting starts in Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s bid for a seventh term as metro Phoenix’s top law enforcer, his toughest fight yet after more than two decades in office.

Arpaio, who calls himself “America’s Toughest Sheriff,” made a name for himself cracking down on illegal immigration and forcing jail inmates to wear pink underwear.

Arpaio has not yet officially been charged. U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton asked the federal government to write an order to show cause for her to sign by Wednesday. That will serve as a charging document for the case to go forward against Arpaio.

The AZCentral reported, Arpaio said in a statement, that,“My point is this was strictly a political attack on this sheriff in this campaign."  “I am not going to surrender. I am going to fight this all the way. And I expect to be re-elected.”

Mel McDonald, Arpaio’s defense attorney, said that, “Usually a set status conference is a meeting between the court and council to discuss legal issues.”  “We had no clue that they were going to come here today and make the announcements that they made.”

Paul Charlton, a former U.S. attorney for the District of Arizona, said that, “As rare as it is to have a federal judge refer the head of a law-enforcement agency for prosecution, it is even rarer that the Department of Justice would pick up that gauntlet and move forward with the charge.” “It’s unheard of.”

DOJ officials did not respond to requests for an interview after court proceedings but issued the following statement.

“The matter was referred to the Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section, and at a status hearing today before U.S. District Judge Susan R. Bolton, the department informed the court that it intends to proceed to trial against Sheriff Arpaio on the criminal contempt charges but, because of procedural defects, will not be proceeding against the other individuals. The court ordered the department to file a revised order redacting the contempt matters against the other individuals and set a preliminary trial date of December 6, 2016.”

His campaign released a statement hours after the hearing, attributed to Arpaio.

“First and foremost, it is clear that the corrupt Obama Justice Department is trying to influence my re-election as Sheriff of Maricopa County," the statement said. "It is no coincidence that this announcement comes 28 days before the election and the day before early voting starts. It is a blatant abuse of power and the people of Maricopa County should be as outraged as I am."

“Let’s put the cards on the table: Tomorrow begins early voting. This has to come out on the eve of early voting?” Arpaio said.

“But this sheriff will never surrender. I’m going to continue running for office. This Obama administration will do anything.”

“I’m not going to settle. I didn’t do anything wrong. It’s just politics. It’s not the first time.”

“One day the truth will come out,” he said.

Also Read: 7 Arizonans on Forbes list of richest Americans!

Nandini