Trump pardons former Maricopa County Sheriff Arpaio
President Donald Trump announced Friday he was pardoning former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, after hinting he would do so at a Phoenix rally.
(Facebook Photo)
(Facebook Photo)
PHOENIX — President Donald Trump announced Friday evening he was pardoning former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, after hinting he would do so at a Phoenix rally.
“Throughout his time as sheriff, Arpaio continued his life’s work of protecting the public from the scourges of crime and illegal immigration,” a statement from the White House said. “Arpaio is now 85 years old, and after more than 50 years of admirable service to our nation, he is worthy candidate for a presidential pardon.”
The president followed the statement with a tweet about two hours later.
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!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 26, 2017
It was the first pardon of Trump’s administration. The Justice Department reportedly said it was not consulted about the pardon.
Just in: Justice Department had no role in Arpaio's pardon. "This is the President's pardon" – source with knowledge tells @LauraAJarrett
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) August 26, 2017
The case has cost Maricopa County millions of dollars in legal fees.
Arpaio was expected to address the pardon on Monday.
Just spoke with Arpaio — says his attorneys were made several hours ago. He will hold a presser on Monday. Audio coming– https://t.co/LhZphXoF3x
— Vaughn Hillyard (@VaughnHillyard) August 26, 2017
However, the former sheriff took to Twitter to thank both his supporters and Trump after the pardon.
I am humbled and incredibly grateful to President Trump. I look fwd to putting this chapter behind me and helping to #MAGA
— Joe Arpaio (@RealSheriffJoe) August 26, 2017
Arpaio’s attorney said the pardon saved everyone a lot of time.
“Frankly, this saves everybody a lot of trouble and does what’s right,” Jack Wilenchik told CNN shortly after the pardon was issued.
The president intimated he planned to pardon the former sheriff during an Aug. 22 rally in Phoenix, but did not want to do so while in the city to avoid causing controversy.
Arpaio said he thought Trump may defy his advisers and pardon him at the rally.
About half of respondents in an Arizona poll said pardoning him at the rally would have been a poor decision.
Arpaio was found guilty in late July of misdemeanor contempt when he continued his immigration sweeps for 17 months after a judge ordered him to stop.
His sentencing was scheduled for Oct. 5 and could have faced up to six months in jail. The pardon made him an innocent man.
Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton called the pardon a slap in the face to Maricopa County’s Latino community.
“Arpaio targeted and terrorized Latino families because of the color of their skin,” Stanton said in a statement.
“He was ordered by a federal judge to stop and he refused. He received a fair trial and a justifiable conviction, and there’s nothing the President can do to change that awful legacy and the stain he has left on our community.”
Other’s echoed Stanton’s criticism, while Arpaio supporters praised the pardon.
Arpaio stumped for the president multiple times during the campaign, including at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
“I have spent 55 years in law enforcement,” the then-sheriff said. “Fifty-five years, I’ve always regarded my work [and] missions critical, but my most important mission has just begun to help elect Donald Trump President of the United States.”
Comments
202 Comments
So many cannot see your concise explanation. Like children that get caught doing something wrong and denying it even though caught outright...it is especially sad when it is the law enforcement officer that violates the law. If that is what a third of the nation that backs trump believes is OK, our nation is in real trouble. Thank you for sound words and not the usual insulting drivel that spoils so many of these threads.
Election night? They are still weeping! Wet pillows and tissues every day!
As a Republican, I was heartily against this braggart and publicity hound. He started off doing a lot of good, but there towards the end it was all about him, his ego and that no one could tell him what to do.
Agree with it or not, he was ordered to stop what he was doing by a federal judge. And then he went on and proclaimed that he basically did not care what the court told him. And then when he finally had no where to turn had the audacity to claim he did not fully understand what the judge was telling him to do. Ya right.
As the Sheriff his job was not to make law and policy but to enforce the laws as directed to him. The people of Maricopa County had enough embarrassment and finally voted him out of office.