Trump pardon of ex-sheriff sparks bipartisan outrage
President Trump's decision to announce the pardon of controversial convicted former sheriff Joe Arpaio at 8 p.m. on a Friday as menacing Hurricane Harvey was about to make landfall in Texas did not go unnoticed.
Arpaio, convicted of criminal contempt of court for violating a federal court order to stop profiling Latinos in Arizona, was controversial enough, but the White House announcement drew bipartisan criticism. The news came two hours before Harvey made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane along the Texas coastline. Arpaio is seen as a political ally of the president, and they share similar views on immigration.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, said Mr. Trump issued the pardon, "Under cover of hurricane and Friday night darkness."
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Others criticized Mr. Trump for issuing the pardon at all. Arizona's senators were particularly vocal among Republicans. In a statement, Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, said the pardon, "undermines his claim for the respect of rule of law, as Mr. Arpaio has shown no remorse for his actions."
"No one is above the law and the individuals entrusted with the privilege of being sworn law officers should always seek to be beyond reproach in their commitment to fairly enforcing the laws they swore to uphold," McCain said. "Mr. Arpaio was found guilty of criminal contempt for continuing to illegally profile Latinos living in Arizona based on their perceived immigration status in violation of a judge's orders. The president has the authority to make this pardon, but doing so at this time undermines his claim for the respect of rule of law as Mr. Arpaio has shown no remorse for his actions."
Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Arizona, said he would have preferred the judicial process to play out, instead of the president intervening.
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