Vice President Mike Pence, center, meets with Border Patrol officials in Calexico on April 30. (John Gibbons / San Diego Union-Tribune)Vice President Mike Pence called former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who was convicted of federal contempt of court last year, a “champion of … the rule of law" and said he was honored that Arpaio attended an event with him on Tuesday in Tempe, Ariz.President Trump pardoned Arpaio last year after he was found in contempt of court, a misdemeanor, for ignoring a federal judge's order to stop detaining people because he merely suspected them of having entered the U.S. illegally. Arpaio is now running for the Republican nomination to succeed the retiring Arizona GOP Sen. Jeff Flake. During remarks at an event in on tax cuts, Pence acknowledged Arpaio was in the room, suggesting he had not expected to see the former Maricopa County sheriff.

Source: Los Angeles Times May 03, 2018 20:37 UTC