PRESIDENT EXPRESSES SUPPORT FOR FORMER LAWMAN’S EFFORTS TO STOP “ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION”
by Sharon Rondeau
(Aug. 14, 2017) — In an exclusive report by Fox News anchor and attorney Gregg Jarrett, President Donald Trump is said to be considering issuing a pardon to former Maricopa County Sheriff Joseph M. Arpaio, who was convicted last month of misdemeanor criminal contempt of court by U.S. District Court Judge Susan Bolton.
The charge was announced by the U.S. Justice Department last fall, just weeks before Arpaio sought re-election to a seventh term as Maricopa County sheriff.
Arpaio not only lost the election, but was prosecuted by the Obama, and then Trump, Justice Departments, culminating in a trial which commenced June 26 and ended in early July.
Arpaio’s attorneys had sought intervention by the U.S. Supreme Court by requesting that Arpaio be granted a jury trial but were denied.
A June 22, 2017 letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions from Arpaio’s attorneys and other efforts to reach him were reportedly thwarted, according to Infowars.
Bolton issued her ruling on July 31.
In late 2015, U.S. District Court Judge G. Murray Snow, who was presiding over the civil case from which the criminal charge emanated, suggested that “government prosecution” of Arpaio would be forthcoming.
It has also been reported that Snow and the Justice Department were in communication while Snow held hearings on whether or not Arpaio should be held in civil contempt stemming from legal action on behalf of a group of Hispanic plaintiffs.
The lawsuit, filed by the ACLU and later joined by the mega-firm Covington & Burling, claimed that Arpaio’s immigration patrols violated the civil and constitutional rights of Hispanic travelers in Maricopa County. The case, filed in December 2007, was concluded in May of last year with Snow’s pronouncement of civil contempt on Arpaio’s part as well as the criminal referral which Justice pursued.
Arpaio was an early supporter of Trump’s presidential campaign and is known for his strong advocacy of existing federal immigration law.
Since taking office, Trump has issued new guidance to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and consequently the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) division to aggressively seek out criminal illegal aliens, particularly gang members.
According to media reports and Trump himself, illegal border crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border have decreased by 70% since January 20, 2017.
Arpaio had conducted his immigration patrols and other activities in conjunction with ICE, which, through its 287(g) program, deputized trained local law enforcers to apprehend individuals found to be in the country illegally for ICE processing.
The Obama regime discontinued Arpaio’s 287(g) status in late 2011.
On July 31, Acting ICE Director Thomas Homan announced 18 new 287(g) agreements in the state of Texas.
In his article posted on Monday, Jarrett quoted Trump as having said on Sunday, “I am seriously considering a pardon for Sheriff Arpaio, 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.”
A Politico article on Friday quoted Arpaio as having said he would accept a presidential pardon but that he would not ask for one.
If granted, it could be Trump’s first pardon of his presidency.
If I were Arpaio, I would reject a presidential pardon. This is only a misdemeanor and will not result in prison time. A accepting a pardon on the other hand is an admission of guilt.
“This brings us to the differences between legislative immunity and a pardon. They are substantial. The latter carries an imputation of guilt; acceptance a confession of it.” Burdick v. United States 236 U.S. 79 (1915)
All for it…but Terry Lakin first please, Mr. President.
Even if he does pardon Arpaio, it won’t absolve him of guilt. He’ll go to his grave with that guilty conviction on his record. And honestly, that’s good enough for me.
MAGA Master – just do it.