Trump 'seriously considering' a pardon for Sheriff Joe Arpaio

[highplainsdem]

Source: 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.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/08/14/trump-seriously-considering-pardon-for-sheriff-joe-arpaio.html

[MFM008]

1. Of course

Racist Joe is his kind of guy.

[FakeNoose]

37. I don't get it

If the cop is indicted, tried and found guilty/not guilty in the state of Virginia, how does Trump have any say?

This is not a federal court matter, and Cheeto's not a state judge or governor of Virginia.
Cheeto's "opinion" doesn't have any weight in this case, am I right?
(other than Twitter-power I mean)

[lapfog_1]

2. A forgone conclusion

not really news...

It would be news if tRump decided NOT to pardon him.

[hlthe2b]

3. I will never understand how anyone, but especially (a minority of) Latinos could vote for Trump...

I surely hope this opens their eyes--if nothing else has

[sinkingfeeling]

4. Surprise, surprise. Bet the orange baboon thinks Neo-Nazis are

American patriots as well.

[riversedge]

10. Of course he does. No doubt, trump was forced to say what he did today. It will leak out.

[Not Ruth]

5. Is Arpaio in jail currently for misdemeanor contempt of court?

That sounds more like an overnight and pay $100 thing. At 85, he should be able to work a hardship angle

Why pardon someone if they are out or almost out.

[Iggo]

7. He's got six months coming.

[Brother Buzz]

14. That's the max

It will probably shake out to be thirty days, and home detention is a strong likelihood.

[former9thward]

20. No he doesn't.

It is a misdemeanor with no previous record. There will be no jail time.

[Eliot Rosewater]

27. The putrid pile of human garbage deserves to spend eternity in his own jail.

[Not Ruth]

29. Then why pardon?

[former9thward]

35. Removes the criminal charge

Also stops any fine or community service parts of a sentence.

[Brother Buzz]

11. He hasn't been sentenced yet

[riversedge]

12. If pardoned, his court record will be erased.

[former9thward]

19. He won't be sentenced until October.

[flibbitygiblets]

6. Another wink-wink to the White Nationalists (psst: You're a racist!)

Don't be shy, just admit it.

[riversedge]

8. ah. but he sounded so presidential today!!

NOT!

[onetexan]

15. yup, the racists stick together

[KPN]

9. Great American patriot my ass.

This asshole President actually thinks he can get away with making the statement he only just now did condemning White supremacists after this statement yesterday and loud silence he displayed re: re: the bigotry and racism fueled violence on Saturday.

We are not chumps asshole. Sorry, you don't deserve and will not get "Mr. President" from me.

[C Moon]

13. Then he'll replace Sessions with him.

[briv1016]

16. Well he knows his first pardon can't be to himself or a family member so...

[highplainsdem]

24. Right. This will be a practice pardon. To see the reaction from his base, and his critics.

[highplainsdem]

32. Lawrence O'Donnell just tweeted that this will be a "warmup exercise."

Link to tweet

[DavidDvorkin]

17. There is no difference between the parties. There is no difference

between the candidates. There is no difference etc.

Repeat every election cycle.

[WheelWalker]

18. POTUS pardon power doesn't extend to state crimes. This crime is contempt of state judge's order.

[former9thward]

21. No it is not.

It was contempt of a federal judge. Trump has full pardon power.

[WheelWalker]

25. I stand corrected. Thank you.

[jpak]

22. Racism and bigotry pays

yup

[Bernardo de La Paz]

23. Terrible, but he'll hold it out until he needs a news cycle distraction. Doesn't erase history. . nt

[Eliot Rosewater]

26. Neo Nazi's run our government, but private server, so no biggie

[bullimiami]

28. Easy. Dump can't pardon a state crime. Only the Gov of the state can.

[Vinca]

33. He violated an order issued by a federal court judge, so maybe he can pardon him.

It doesn't amount to much anyway since the charge is a misdemeanor. The creep will get a slap on the hand at best.

[sandensea]

30. Goes to show that Obama should have pardoned Don Siegelman long ago.

He was too punctilious, really - which is admirable but can be impractical given the GOP's third world-style politics.

[dalton99a]

31. +1

[highplainsdem]

34. Trump puts down racist dog whistle, picks up racist air horn.

Link to tweet

[broadcaster90210]

36. Anyone think otherwise?

The good thing about this is that he would get limited time and is no threat to anyone. What a pardon does is just dig Trump in deeper as the Grand Wizard in Chief.