Trump 'seriously considering' a pardon for ex-Sheriff Joe Arpaio
Trump 'seriously considering' a pardon for ex-Sheriff Joe Arpaio
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| n this Jan. 26, 2016 photo, Donald Trump is joined onstage by then-Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio at a campaign rally in Marshalltown, Iowa. (Reuters) |
EXCLUSIVE: President Trump may soon issue a pardon for Joe Arpaio, the colorful former Arizona sheriff who was found guilty two weeks ago of criminal contempt for defying a state judge’s order to stop traffic patrols targeting suspected undocumented immigrants. In his final years as Maricopa County sheriff, Arpaio had emerged as a leading opponent of illegal immigration.
“I am seriously considering a
pardon for Sheriff Arpaio,” the president said Sunday, during a
conversation with Fox News at his club in Bedminster, N.J. “He has done a
lot in the fight against illegal immigration. He’s a great American
patriot and I hate to see what has happened to him.”
Trump said the pardon could happen in the next few days, should he decide to do so.
Arpaio, 85, was convicted by U.S. District Judge
Susan Bolton of misdemeanor contempt of court for willfully disregarding
an Arizona judge’s order in 2011 to stop the anti-immigrant traffic
patrols. Arpaio had maintained the law enforcement patrols for 17 months
thereafter.
The man who built a controversial national reputation
as “America’s toughest sheriff” admitted he prolonged his patrols, but
insisted he did not intend to break the law because one of his former
attorneys did not explain to him the full measure of restrictions
contained in the court order.
He is expected to be sentenced on Oct. 5 and could
face up to six months in jail. However, since he is 85 years old and has
no prior convictions, some attorneys doubt he will receive any jail
time.
'Is there anyone in local law enforcement who has done more to crack down on illegal immigration than Sheriff Joe?'
Citing his long service as “an outstanding sheriff,”
the president said Arpaio is admired by many Arizona citizens who
respected his tough-on-crime approach.
Arpaio’s widely publicized tactics included forcing
inmates to wear pink underwear and housing them in desert tent camps
where temperatures often climbed well past 100 degrees Fahrenheit. He
also controversially brought back chain gains, including a voluntary
chain gang for women prisoners.
Civil liberties and prisoner advocates as well as
supporters of immigrants’ rights have criticized Arpaio for years,
culminating in his prosecution. He lost his bid for reelection
last year.
“Is there anyone in local law enforcement who has
done more to crack down on illegal immigration than Sheriff Joe?” asked
Trump. “He has protected people from crimes and saved lives. He doesn’t
deserve to be treated this way.”
Stopping the flow of undocumented immigrants across
the southern U.S. border was a central theme of the president’s
campaign. Arpaio endorsed Trump in January 2016.
Trump indicated he may move quickly should he decide
to issue a presidential pardon. “I might do it right away, maybe early
this week. I am seriously thinking about it.”
Trump could decide to await the outcome of an appeal
by Arpaio’s lawyers who contend their client’s case should have been
decided by a jury, not a judge.
In a statement after the verdict, his attorneys
stated, “The judge’s verdict is contrary to what every single witness
testified in the case. Arpaio believes that a jury would have found in
his favor, and that it will.”
Reached Monday for reaction to the possible pardon, Arpaio expressed surprise that Trump was aware of his legal predicament.
“I am happy he understands the case,” he told Fox News. “I would accept the pardon because I am 100 percent not guilty.”
The former sheriff said he will continue to be a
strong supporter of the president regardless of whether he receives a
pardon. But he also voiced concern that a pardon might cause problems
for Trump, saying, “I would never ask him for a pardon, especially if it
causes heat. I don’t want to do anything that would hurt the
president.”
Trump has not granted any pardons so far in his presidency.
Gregg Jarrett is a Fox News Anchor and former defense attorney.
