Civic Register
| 8.25.17

BREAKING NEWS: President Trump Pardons Convicted Sheriff Joe Arpaio

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Late Friday night, President Trump pardoned former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

Arpaio was convicted for continuing to target Latinos in traffic stops, against a court order. The federal judge ruled that this practice violated people's constitutional rights. He faced up to 6 months in jail; the sentencing was scheduled for October 5th.

The President hinted the pardon was coming during his campaign-style rally in Phoenix on Tuesday. He asked the crowd, "Do the people in this room like Sheriff Joe?" After the crowd responded with cheers, Trump continued, “I’ll make a prediction, I think he’s going to be just fine. I won’t do it tonight, because I don’t want to cause any controversy, but Sheriff Joe can feel good."

Late Friday night, Arpaio felt good. The White House released a statement saying, "Today, President Donald J. Trump granted a Presidential pardon to Joe Arpaio, former Sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona."

It’s the President’s first pardon.

Even before Arpaio’s misdemeanor criminal contempt conviction, the sheriff was a controversial figure in a county known for its large number of immigrants, both documented and undocumented. His questionable tactics included forcing inmates to wear pink underwear and housing them in desert tent camps in the Arizona heat. He also brought back chain gangs, including a voluntary chain gang for women prisoners.

Trump, however, has long been a fan of "America’s toughest sheriff." In an interview with Fox News in mid-August, the President asked, “Is there anyone in local law enforcement who has done more to crack down on illegal immigration than Sheriff Joe? He has protected people from crimes and saved lives. He doesn’t deserve to be treated this way.”

When Arpaio was reached for comment, he told Fox News, "I am happy he understands the case. I would accept the pardon because I am 100 percent not guilty."

Not everyone agreed. When it was rumored that Trump might pardon Arpaio during his Phoenix rally, the Deputy Legal Director of the ACLU, Cecilia Wang, told the Washington Post, "President Trump would be literally pardoning Joe Arpaio’s flagrant violation of federal court orders that prohibited the illegal detention of Latinos. He would undo a conviction secured by his own career attorneys at the Justice Department. Make no mistake: This would be an official presidential endorsement of racism."

The full statement issued by the White House said:

"Arpaio's life and career, which began at the age of 18 when he enlisted in the military after the outbreak of the Korean War, exemplify selfless public service. After serving in the Army, Arpaio became a police officer in Washington, D.C. and Las Vegas, NV and later served as a Special Agent for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), formerly the Bureau of Narcotics. After 25 years of admirable service, Arpaio went on to lead the DEA's branch in Arizona.

"In 1992, the problems facing his community pulled Arpaio out of retirement to return to law enforcement. He ran and won a campaign to become Sheriff of Maricopa County. Throughout his time as Sheriff, Arpaio continued his life's work of protecting the public from the scourges of crime and illegal immigration. Sheriff Joe Arpaio is now eighty-five years old, and after more than fifty years of admirable service to our Nation, he is worthy candidate for a Presidential pardon."

What do you think? Was the President right in pardoning Sherriff Joe? Or should Arpaio have served his time? Hit the Take Action button and comment below.

—Josh Herman

(Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore / Creative Commons)

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