Donald Trump considers pardoning Joe Arpaio, sheriff who violated court order on racial profiling
The President says he may pardon Mr Arpaio as early as this week
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Donald Trump has said he is “seriously considering” pardoning Joe Arpaio, the former Arizona sheriff who was recently found guilty of criminal contempt for violating a court order that mandated his officers stop racially profiling Latinos.
“I am seriously considering a pardon for Sheriff Arpaio,” Mr Trump told Fox News in an interview at his club in Bedminster, New Jersey. “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.”
The President added that he might issue the pardon “right away, maybe early this week”. It would be his first pardon as President.
Mr Arpaio was convicted in July for defying a 2011 court order that required his officers to stop detaining people on the suspicion that they were in the country illegally. Several Latino citizens and legal residents had been detained under the policy.
Mr Arpaio’s lawyer argued that the court order was unclear, and claimed he had not intended to racially profile anyone. Judge Susan Bolton said he had shown “flagrant disregard” for the court order and “willfully violated” it.
The former sheriff is scheduled to be sentenced in early October, and faces up to six months in jail.
In 2013, another judge found Mr Arpaio’s deputies had disproportionately targeted Latinos during traffic operations – a ruling that was largely upheld on appeal in 2015. Mr Arpaio is also known for allegedly forcing his prisoners to wear pink underwear, and housing them in hot, canvas tents.
Still, Mr Trump heaped praise on the controversial sheriff in his interview with Fox.
“Is there anyone in local law enforcement who has done more to crack down on illegal immigration than Sheriff Joe?” he asked. “He has protected people from crimes and saved lives. He doesn’t deserve to be treated this way.”
Mr Arpaio roundly endorsed Mr Trump in his presidential run last year, telling NPR that he had a “gut feeling” that the candidate was “different,” and “my type of guy”.
“We kind of do the parallel, if you look at him and me," he said.
Still, Fox News reports he seemed surprised when informed of the President’s comments.
“I am happy he understands the case,” Mr Arpaio said. “I would accept the pardon because I am 100 per cent not guilty.”
He added: “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.”
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments