The board voted 2 to 2 with one member absent. The investigation was ordered by Sheriff Joe Arpaio and conducted by a volunteer investigative team, who was accompanied by deputies for protection. It's estimated that the county Sheriff’s Office spent nearly $10,000, including $3,500 in overtime fees, on the trip, according to the paper.
Citizens of Arizona, a group that opposes Arpaio and his "birther probe", was present at the meeting and urged the board to reject the money. Don Stapley, one of the supervisors who voted to reject the money, said taking it would have covered up the misuse of taxpayer funds, the Republic reports.
