TRUMP DEFENDS PARDON OF ARIZONA’S EX-SHERIFF

President Trump defended his pardon of Joe Arpaio on Monday, reciting a litany of controversial clemency actions by his predecessors and declaring the former Arizona sheriff a national hero.

“Sheriff Joe is a patriot, Sheriff Joe loves our country. Sheriff Joe protected our borders, and Sheriff Joe was very, very unfairly treated by the Obama administration, especially right before an election — an election he would have won,” Trump said.

Arpaio was found guilty of contempt of court for defying court orders by detaining people suspected of immigration violations.

Trump’s comments came in a news conference Monday with Finnish President Sauli Niinistö.