President Trump Grants Pardon To Former Sheriff Joe Arpaio Of Arizona

By Jimmy Jenkins, Christina Estes
Published: Friday, August 25, 2017 - 5:09pm
Updated: Friday, August 25, 2017 - 7:06pm
KJZZ
Joe Arpaio

President Donald Trump has granted former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio a pardon.

The announcement came Friday evening after hinting at a pardon earlier in the month and essentially promising one when he visited the Valley on Tuesday.

A statement from the White House Press Secretary cited Arpaio’s military service in the Korean War as well as his time at the Drug Enforcement Agency.

Arpaio was facing six months in jail for a criminal contempt of court conviction.

A federal judge found him guilty of disobeying a court order to end his immigration enforcement policies.

Arpaio’s attorneys were pursuing other challenges to the rulings and have said they would accept a pardon. But they did not formally request one through the Department of Justice.

A longtime critic of Arpaio says she feels betrayed by Trump. Although disappointed, civil rights activist Lydia Guzman says the community still won.

“He was convicted. He was told by not one, but two federal courts that he was in violation. So, I think that in itself is somewhat of a vindication. It’s our own victory, our own way," Guzman said.

Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton calls the pardon a slap in the face to the people of Maricopa County.

State Rep. Tony Navarrete tells KJZZ the pardon will inspire people to become more politically active and voice their concerns at the ballot box.

“This just continues to solidify the racism that Donald Trump continues to promote and also justify," he said.