WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Donald Trump has pardoned a controversial former sheriff who was convicted of a crime connected to the racial profiling of Latinos in Arizona.
Joe Arpaio was convicted of criminal contempt in Arizona for his continuous racial profiling of Latinos. He faced a possible jail term in an upcoming sentencing hearing. He was not re-elected in the latest election in Maricopa county, Arizona.
However, his steadfast support of Donald Trump paid off, when the President delivered a pardon this weekend.
“I am pleased to inform you that I have just granted a full Pardon to 85 year old American patriot Sheriff Joe Arpaio. He kept Arizona safe!” President Trump proclaimed Friday.
In response, Arpaio thanked President Trump “for seeing my conviction for what it is: a political witch hunt by holdovers in the Obama justice department! I am humbled and incredibly grateful to President Trump. I look fwd to putting this chapter behind me and helping to #MAGA.”
Trump’s pardon brought about a stiff reaction. The ACLU said immediately afterward that “Arpaio was convicted of criminal contempt of court for deliberately violating federal court orders, after violating the constitutional rights of people of color in his community. Trump’s pardon condones racial profiling and a sheriff who defied the rule of law. You can bet Trump will be seeing us in court very soon.”
Even members of his own party in Arizona weren’t happy with the pardon.
UPI/Kevin Dietsch
U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) released the following statement on the pardon of former Sheriff Joe Arpaio:
“No one is above the law and the individuals entrusted with the privilege of being sworn law officers should always seek to be beyond reproach in their commitment to fairly enforcing the laws they swore to uphold. Mr. Arpaio was found guilty of criminal contempt for continuing to illegally profile Latinos living in Arizona based on their perceived immigration status in violation of a judge’s orders. The President has the authority to make this pardon, but doing so at this time undermines his claim for the respect of rule of law as Mr. Arpaio has shown no remorse for his actions.”
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