Ex-sheriff Arpaio asks judge to undo conviction
PHOENIX >> Fresh off his presidential pardon, an emboldened Joe Arpaio on Monday lashed out at his critics and the judge who found him guilty of a crime as his attorneys went to court to throw the court decision that was the basis for his conviction.
The former Arizona sheriff struck a defiant tone in insisting he “didn’t do anything wrong” and questioning whether his judge was fair. His comments came as President Donald Trump took a similar posture in defending his Friday pardon of the former lawman, blaming the Obama administration for Arpaio’s troubles and calling him a “patriot” who fought against illegal immigration.
“I thought he was treated unbelievably unfairly,” Trump said.
Arpaio called U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton biased and questioned the growing number of critics across the United States who denounced his pardon as a political reward for having been an early supporter of Trump’s campaign.
“Why are they speaking out right now? I’ve been sheriff for 24 years. Are they coming out against me because of a biased judge?” said Arpaio, who was voted out of office last year. He declined to explain how he believes the judge acted unfairly toward him, saying only that “it’s all documented — the bias and everything else.”
Not only will the pardon erase his contempt of court conviction, it also gave new life to a politician who left office battered after years of scandals over a racial profiling verdict, hundreds of sex-crimes complaints that weren’t properly investigated and racking up $141 million taxpayerfunded costs for defending him in lawsuits.
Arpaio said he had sworn off politics after his crushing defeat last year against Democrat Paul Penzone. Since Friday’s pardon, Arpaio said he will return to politics after a large number of supporters have asked him to run again.