President Donald Trump’s decision to pardon former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio over his criminal contempt conviction was wrong, Paul Ryan has said.
The top-ranking Republican in Congress said that he did not agree with the decision.
Joe Arpaio, 85, was found guilty after he defied a court order to stop traffic patrols targeting suspected immigrants.
The former sheriff said his conviction was “a witch hunt by the Obama justice department”.
Republican House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan is the latest senior politician to condemn Joe Arpaio’s pardon.
His spokesman said in a statement: “Law enforcement officials have a special responsibility to respect the rights of everyone in the United States. We should not allow anyone to believe that responsibility is diminished by this pardon.”
Other prominent Republican critics include Arizona Senator John McCain and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush. Arizona’s other Republican Senator Jeff Flake also condemned the move as did Democrats and human rights campaigners.
Joe Arpaio’s lawyer Jack Wilenchik said that those critical of his pardon were wrong because he was unfairly prosecuted – there was no jury in his case.
The former sheriff was an eager supporter of Donald Trump’s campaign to become president and backed tougher policies to combat illegal immigration.
In a statement announcing the pardon, his first, President Trump said: “Arpaio’s life and career, which began at the age of 18 when he enlisted in the military after the outbreak of the Korean War, exemplify selfless public service.
“Throughout his time as sheriff, Arpaio continued his life’s work of protecting the public from the scourges of crime and illegal immigration.
“Sheriff Joe Arpaio is now 85 years old, and after more than 50 years of admirable service to our nation, he is a worthy candidate for a presidential pardon.”
Joe Arpaio has said that he may consider running for political office again, despite his age.
He lost a bid for re-election in Arizona’s Maricopa County in November 2016, after 24 years in office.
Joe Arpaio could have faced six months in jail at his sentencing in October.
He served in the US military before he became a police officer – where he quickly acquired a reputation for his anti-immigration stance and tough enforcement tactics.
Ex-Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio, who had been convicted of criminal contempt, has been pardoned by President Donald Trump.
Joe Arpaio, 85, was found guilty after he defied a court order to stop traffic patrols targeting suspected immigrants. He was due to be sentenced in October.
President Trump had hinted at the pardon at a rally in Phoenix on August 22.
Thanking the president, Joe Arpaio said his conviction was “a political witch hunt by holdovers in the Obama justice department”.
Joe Arpaio tweeted: “Thank you…. for seeing my conviction for what it is.”
“I’m not going away,” he said, while declining to say whether he would run for sheriff again.
President Trump has frequently praised the former sheriff, who is known for his controversial hard-line stance on immigration.
Joe Arpaio appeared on the campaign trail with President Trump in 2016 – describing him as “the law-and-order candidate”.
In a statement announcing the pardon, his first, President Trump said: “Arpaio’s life and career, which began at the age of 18 when he enlisted in the military after the outbreak of the Korean War, exemplify selfless public service.
“Throughout his time as sheriff, Arpaio continued his life’s work of protecting the public from the scourges of crime and illegal immigration.
“Sheriff Joe Arpaio is now 85 years old, and after more than 50 years of admirable service to our nation, he is a worthy candidate for a presidential pardon.”
Joe Arpaio, who styled himself as “America’s toughest sheriff”, rose to national prominence for his sweeps of undocumented immigrants in Hispanic communities, and for detaining Spanish-speakers under suspicion of being undocumented immigrants.
In July 2017, the former sheriff was found guilty of violating a 2011 order to stop detaining immigrants.
The decision to pardon the former policeman was condemned by Democrats and civil rights groups.
Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy said it was “disheartening that [the president] set the bar so very low for his first pardon”.
Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton called the move a slap in the face for the Latino community and those who had been victimized.
Joe Arpaio, who was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, could have faced six months in jail at his sentencing in October.
He served in the US military before he became a police officer – where he quickly acquired a reputation for his anti-immigration stance and tough enforcement tactics.
Joe Arpaio lost a bid for re-election in Arizona’s Maricopa County in November 2016, after 24 years in office.
He famously forced the prisoners to wear pink underwear and socks and old-fashioned black-and-white striped prison jumpsuits. The inmates lived outdoors while enduring sweltering Arizona desert temperatures.
Joe Arpaio also revived chain gangs, including a voluntary one for female prisoners.
Jodi Arias returns to a 7ft x 11ft cell in Estrella Jail each day as she awaits to find out if she will receive the death penalty for the brutal murder of Travis Alexander.
The bunk bed with thin mattress and pink sheets is where Jodi Arias slept in the night following a harrowing day in court which saw Travis Alexander’s siblings break down as they described how their brother’s horrifying death changed their lives forever.
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office invited media into see the roughly 7ft x 11ft cell in Estrella Jail where Arias will be housed until Jodi Arias’ trial has concluded.
Jodi Arias is confined to the cell 23 hours a day and does not share with another inmate.
In the bare room with concrete floor, notepads, bottles of lotion and newspaper clippings litter the small space. A stack of books rests behind the bed.
On the floor, are numerous paper bags full of papers along with a copy of The Intelligent Optimist magazine.
Jodi Arias returns to a 7ft x 11ft cell in Estrella Jail each day as she awaits to find out if she will receive the death penalty for the brutal murder of Travis Alexander
The cell is next to a block of inmate showers and payphones where Jodi Arias has been calling friends who have then tweeted on her behalf to supporters.
According to azfamily.com, self-described “America’s toughest sheriff” Joe Arpaio invited journalists to view Jodi Arias’ living quarters after reports that she had it “cushy”.
Joe Arpaio said: “This is not the Hilton Hotel.”
He also said that Jodi Arias had been relatively well-behaved during her time in one of his facilities – apart from a small infraction involving crayons.
In the area where Jodi Arias is held, there are seven other inmates – but no conversation is allowed.
Jodi Arias was transferred back to the Phoenix jail last week after spending the weekend on suicide watch at another Arizona facility.
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