The Crooked Joe Arpaio, abandoned by his once loyal political allies following his re-election defeat and subsequent conviction for criminal contempt of court for disobeying a federal judge’s order to stop racial profiling brown and immigrant Maricopa County drivers, says he’d be “honored” if Donald Trump pardoned him for his crimes.
"It makes me feel good that at least someone is backing me up. And how much better can you get than president of the United States?" Arpaio said.
Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton, a Democrat, released a statement Wednesday urging Trump to reconsider holding Tuesday's rally. He said if Trump was coming to Phoenix to pardon Arpaio, "then it will be clear that his true intent is to enflame emotions and further divide our nation."
Arpaio, now 85 years old, believes he and the president have both been unfairly smeared as racists. He predicts Trump will end up being regarded as the greatest president in American history, "We need him and I feel sad how they're trying to destroy him. It makes me sick. I'll tell you one thing he's got guts and courage and that's what this country needs."
"As far as the situation on a pardon, I didn't ask for it but I will accept it if he does do it," Arpaio said. "This president understands what I've been going through.” You mean making life as hellish as possible for brown people and immigrants? He sure does know all about that, Joe.
A very lonely Arpaio also told NPR that while he hasn’t yet been invited to Trump’s upcoming Phoenix rally, he’s just happy someone, anyone, is standing next to him following his fall from office, one that has cost Maricopa County taxpayers nearly $70 million in legal fees. “You don't see anybody next to me and I've endorsed so many people,” he moaned.
“It is a profound assault on our democracy for Donald Trump to grant, or even consider granting former Sheriff Arpaio a presidential pardon,” said Arizona Congressman Raul Grijalva, one of three House Democrats to write a letter urging Trump to not pardon Arpaio. “For Donald Trump to grant him leniency gives racist, hatred-filled, and extremist individuals and groups an unequivocal endorsement in continuing with their dangerous practices.”