PHOENIX — As the immigration debate rages in Washington between President Trump and congressional Democrats, one of its longtime protagonists, former Maricopa County, Ariz., Sheriff Joe Arpaio is watching from the sidelines. Arpaio is best-known for tough prison conditions on his watch, including tactics federal courts deemed racial profiling.
In July 2017, Arpaio was convicted of criminal contempt of court, for which Trump pardoned him in August 2017. By that time, though, Arpaio had already been booted from office. In 2016 he lost re-election for the sheriff’s post he had held for 24 years. He ran for Senate a year later, but finished third in the Republican primary.
Washington Examiner spoke with Arpaio, 86, at his office outside Phoenix.
Examiner: You’ve been accused of some very serious things while sheriff. They include multiple allegations of police misconduct, failure to investigate sex crimes, and abuse of suspects in custody. The Justice Department even said you oversaw the worst pattern of racial profiling in U.S. history. You and your deputies have had $140 million worth of lawsuits brought against you from many parties.
Arpaio: They finally got me on a contempt of court. I spent 55 years in law enforcement. In my life, I think I got two parking tickets, in my life. And I am sitting at a criminal defense table for six, seven days. And she, that judge, finds me in contempt of court. Of course, the other judge is the one that referred it to her, because he even wanted, he even said, ‘I don’t want skin in the game.’ It was a hatchet job. As far as the lawsuits, come on. I think we got sued $80 million in 24 years. The others had to do with, I don’t know, vehicles. People sue you all the time.
Examiner: You supported President Trump in the 2016 election and, even just last week, tweeted you support his immigration policies. Has he or his staff ever called you for advice since he took office in 2017?
Arpaio: As far as the advice, I don’t brag about it. I met with the president in private about two months ago, just me and him. I’m not going to say what I said. I could come out like these politicians when they meet with the president. ‘I met with the president. I said this. He said that.’ Now, if the president wants me to say something or wants something to be said, that’s up to him …
My wife Ava, 61 years, she was just bitten by a poisonous snake, and she just got out of the hospital, came down with cancer during this contempt trial. Actually it was the civil part of it. So she used to watch Fox because she loved Donald Trump. So I told him that story. He picks up the phone, he calls my wife. He’s called my wife several times to see how she is doing.
Examiner: Even though you support President Trump, what things would you do differently or tell him to change if you were having an honest conversation with him?
Arpaio: The only thing I would have to adjust to is not worry too much about the political side — because when you work in Washington, you gotta worry about the bureaucratic side — but I can handle both. But if he needs me, I will go to the ends of the earth for him.
Examiner: 2017 was a roller coaster year for you. You were found to be in criminal contempt of court for not following a judge’s order to cease traffic patrols targeting people who may be in the country illegally. Then President Trump pardoned you in August. Do you think Trump scratched your back by pardoning you because you supported him in 2016? Why or why not?
Arpaio: No. Because you know why? He did the right thing. I’m not guilty. Now I’m up in the Supreme Court with my own attorney to fight the 9th Circuit, my friends. I say that facetiously, saying that my pardon does not affect erasing it from my record. So I’m fighting that. You know, a misdemeanor.
Examiner: What’s next for you? Anything you’re working on for the next year? What’s your endgame? What do you want your legacy to be?
Arpaio: I’m writing the book. I give speeches around the country. I’m a big supporter and will continue to be a big supporter to do whatever I can for President Trump to make sure he gets re-elected.
Now you didn’t ask me the question. You did in a way, but you didn’t say regrets. If you said, ‘Sheriff, do you have regrets?’ My answer is always Frank Sinatra “My Way.” Regrets, I’ve had a few, but too few to mention.
