Democrats are not pleased President Trump pardoned former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, and they aren’t alone.
After teasing it at a rally in Phoenix on Tuesday, Trump followed through Friday and pardoned Arpaio, who last month was found in criminal contempt of court for not following a different judge’s orders to stop traffic patrols that targeted illegal immigrants due to a record of discriminating against Latinos. Arpaio was found in civil contempt of court in May.
Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., was blunt with his dismay, calling the pardon “basically a big middle finger to America.”
The Arpaio pardon is basically a big middle finger to America. A loud, proud declaration that this Administration supports racism.
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) August 26, 2017
Other Democrats followed suit, criticizing Trump for pardoning Arpaio, who was an ardent supporter of Trump’s during the campaign, while Hurricane Harvey barrelled down on Texas and Louisiana on Friday.
“Donald Trump just gave a free pass to his buddy Joe Arpaio, the nation’s most notorious agent of racism and bigotry, during a natural disaster that could hurt millions. That’s not presidential, that’s a coward,” said Tom Perez, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer tweeted, “As millions of people in TX and LA are prepping for the hurricane, the President is using the cover of the storm to [p]ardon a man who violated a court’s order to stop discriminating against Latinos and [b]an courageous transgender men and women from serving our nation’s Armed Forces.
“So sad, so weak,” he added.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi complained that the pardon “of fellow birther Arpaio makes mockery of rule of law, & says communities of color can be targeted & abused w/ total impunity.”
The birther movement called into question former President Barack Obama’s citizenship. Arpaio said last year he thought Obama’s birth certificate in Hawaii was forged.
A handful of Republicans also condemned the move, including Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., who said he “would have preferred that the President honor the judicial process and let it take its course.”
Sen. John McCain lamented that the pardon “undermines his claim for the respect of rule of law.”
