Los Angeles Times
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump told Fox News on Sunday that he was “seriously considering” a pardon for Joe Arpaio, the former Maricopa County, Arizona sheriff.
Arpaio was convicted two weeks ago of defying a court order to stop his practice, while he was sheriff of Maricopa County, of racially profiling Latinos and bringing detainees to federal immigration officials. Fox reported on the comments Monday.
Arpaio, a figure widely loathed by liberals and immigrant rights advocates, is a folk hero to many on the hard right and served as a prominent Trump campaign spokesman.
“He has done a lot in the fight against illegal immigration,” Trump told Fox. “He’s a great American patriot and I hate to see what has happened to him.”
Copyright Los Angeles Times