Trump’s full pardon of controversial Arizona sheriff sparks outrage

It is unlikely Arpaio – the once self-described “Toughest Sheriff in America” – will face the legal consequences of his actions because of another exercise in individual authority trumping our nation’s separation of powers doctrine.

The White House said he was a “worthy candidate” for a presidential pardon.

Self-styled as “America’s toughest sheriff”, he was accused of detaining people exclusively on the suspicion that they might be illegal immigrants.

U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow found the sheriff’s office engaged in systemic racial profiling of Latinos in its anti-illegal-immigration efforts.

“The vast majority of Latinos in Arizona are not undocumented, yet they all fell under heightened scrutiny as Arpaio honed his image”, the Republic’s editorial said.

Trump pardoned Arpaio and directed the Pentagon to implement the trans servicemember ban hours before Hurricane Harvey made landfall on the Texas coast with winds of 130 mph.

Arpaio served as Sheriff for Arizona’s Maricopa County from 1993 to 2016 and was regularly re-elected with heavily majorities until his departure a year ago.

“I am pleased to inform you that I have just granted a full Pardon to 85 year old American patriot Sheriff Joe Arpaio”.

Arpaio has been a vocal supporter of Mr Trump.

The board wrote that a pardon for Arpaio wasn’t just insulting to Latinos, but to all. They aligned on the “birther” issue, which called into question former President Barack Obama’s legitimacy to hold the office. “Joe Arpaio intentionally terrorized immigrant communities across Arizona for decades and traumatized an entire generation of Arizonans”, said Alejandra Gomez, co-executive director of Living United for Change in Arizona.

Arpaio was convicted in July 2017 for violating a federal judge’s order to not detain suspected illegal immigrants.

Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain, frequently a thorn in Trump’s side, was among the most vocal critics. According to Jones, “It’s Dr. Corsi writing the articles, and it’s Matt Drudge picked him up, and the president saw it in Matt Drudge’s Twitter feed, and then said, ‘Is this true?” He demonstrates an embarrassing contempt for the rule of law by hiding behind a disgraceful pardon to escape the punishment our laws prescribe for lawbreakers. The judge convicted him.

Former Manhattan federal prosecutor Preet Bharara said that the pardon was contrary to guidelines at the Department of Justice, which pursued the case against Arpaio, and that it was “pure politics”.

First, here’s the White House comment in full, issued on Friday night.