I cannot say I am surprised by President Trump's decision to pardon former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, but I am troubled by it.
The first reason I am troubled by it is because he bestowed it upon one of his most vocal supporters. Had Arpaio been a critic of Trump don't you think the President would be calling him "Crooked Joe"?
Of course, Trump isn't the first President to pardon a political ally. President Clinton's pardon of Marc Rich immediately springs to mind. As egregious as Clinton's pardon was of Rich it came during the final hours of his presidency. Trump pardoned Arpaio eight months into his presidency. Under the circumstances, I believe it is reasonable to wonder if Trump will use this power to benefit his allies who are on the wrong side of the law or who could be in that position in a way none of his predecessors has ever conceived. I think it is safe to say this will not be the last time President Trump uses this get out of jail free card on behalf of his supporters.
The second reason I am troubled by this pardon is because it is a clear endorsement of racial profiling. After all, the reason Arpaio ran afoul of the law was because he defied court orders to refrain from engaging in the practice and was convicted in a court of law for his willful defiance. Trump's pardon will only encourage law enforcement to engage in more racial profiling and thus more violations of due process without fear of being held accountable by federal authorities.
Of course, President Trump is within his authority to pardon anyone he pleases. But as the old saying goes, 'Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should.' Unfortunately for us discretion isn't part of Trump's repertoire.
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