Joe Arpaio, one of Donald Trump’s earliest supporters, was convicted of federal misdemeanour criminal contempt this year after a judge found he had defied a court order to stop targeting suspected undocumented immigrants. Photo: APWashington: US President Donald Trump pardoned former Arizona county sheriff Joe Arpaio on Friday, using his first act of presidential clemency to give reprieve to a political supporter known—and criminally convicted—for his tough crackdown on illegal immigration. “Sheriff Joe Arpaio is now 85 years old, and after more than 50 years of admirable service to our Nation, he is worthy candidate for a Presidential pardon,” the White House said in a statement. By pardoning Arpaio, Trump threatened to further inflame national tensions over race and immigration while also alienating some of the Republicans who have touted the importance of the rule of law. “He has done a lot in the fight against illegal immigration,” Trump said in the interview.

Source: Mint August 26, 2017 07:30 UTC