Fox News is reporting that Trump is already considering using his pardon power to pardon a very loyal supporter and former Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio:
FOX NEWS – 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.
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.
“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.”
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.
I’m sure some, especially on the left, will knee-jerk on this without looking at the actual case and say Trump is abusing his pardon power to free a loyal supporter, whether Arpaio actually deserves it or not.
I haven’t looked at it myself either but I’m also not just going rush to judgement and assume Arpaio is getting something he doesn’t deserve because he is a friend of Trump. After all, Arpaio has been under attack for years by the Obama administration over this methods as sheriff, whether it be his unique jailing system or his position on illegal immigration.
Something else to consider, that this is just a misdemeanor charge. It’s not like Trump is considering letting a murderer go free because of loyalty.
At the end of the day I actually don’t think this will amount to that big of a deal, except in the minds of those who are trying to create a toxic atmosphere to keep Trump from getting elected again in 2020.
But we’ll see.