Threatens shutdown, suggests controversial pardon
By John Wagner, Jenna Johnson and Danielle Paquette
August 23 at 2:14 AM
PHOENIX President Trump on Tuesday threatened to shut down the government over border wall funding, said the North American Free Trade Agreement is likely to be terminated and signaled that he was prepared to pardon former Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio, who is anathema to the Latino community.
Trumps freewheeling comments came at a boisterous campaign rally here during which he also went on an extended diatribe about the media, blaming reporters for the negative fallout he has received over his responses to the hate-fueled violence in Charlottesville.
Arpaio was convicted last month of criminal contempt for ignoring a federal judges order to stop detaining people because he merely suspected them of being undocumented immigrants. A major Trump supporter during last years campaign, he awaits sentencing.
So was Sheriff Joe convicted for doing his job? Trump asked the crowd. You know what, Ill make a prediction: I think hes going to be just fine, okay? But I wont do it tonight because I dont want to cause any controversy. But Sheriff Joe should feel good ...
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-holds-campaign-style-rally-amid-large-protests-in-arizona/2017/08/22/dd7c83c0-8796-11e7-961d-2f373b3977ee_story.html?utm_term=.a65b9cedc6e9