President Trump pardoned former Sheriff Joe Arpaio. For what crime was he pardoned?
United States District Judge Susan R. Bolton sentenced sheriff Joe Arpaio to prison for contempt of court. She ordered him to cease reporting illegal aliens to ICE. Yes, she ordered him to violate federal law – a federal judge orders a state sheriff to violate federal law. That was his so-called crime.
This morning I read via Twitter John McCain condemned President Trump’s pardon of Arpaio. Sen. McCain accused President Trump of not following the Rule of Law.
For the point of law, let’s understand what the president did. He followed Article 2, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution which states, “The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States…shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.”
The Constitution empowers the president to pardon anyone, anytime, for any reason except impeachment. Period. Precedent? How about President Bill Clinton’s pardon of a criminal fugitive Marc Rich.
It is John McCain and a rogue federal judge who do not follow the rule of law.
Now you know the rest of the story.
John White
Rockwall, Texas
