John McCain Blasts Trump Over Arpaio Pardon

McCain says pardon undermines Trump’s “claim for the respect of rule of law.”

Senator John McCain on Friday issued a statement blasting Donald Trump for issuing a pardon to former Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio. McCain said it “undermines his claim for the respect of rule of law.”

“Mr. Arpaio was found guilty of criminal contempt for continuing to illegally profile Latinos living in Arizona based on their perceived immigration status in violation of a judge’s orders,” McCain said in a statement.

“The President has the authority to make this pardon, but doing so at this time undermines his claim for the respect of rule of law as Mr. Arpaio has shown no remorse for his actions.”

The Trump White House announced Arpaio’s pardon Friday afternoon.

Arpaio was convicted of criminal contempt of court for refusing a court order to stop arresting people because of their race in an attempt to find undocumented immigrants.

Full statement from John McCain:

STATEMENT BY SENATOR JOHN McCAIN ON PRESIDENT TRUMP’S PARDON OF JOE ARPAIO

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) released the following statement today on President Trump’s pardon of former Sheriff Joe Arpaio:

“No one is above the law and the individuals entrusted with the privilege of being sworn law officers should always seek to be beyond reproach in their commitment to fairly enforcing the laws they swore to uphold. Mr. Arpaio was found guilty of criminal contempt for continuing to illegally profile Latinos living in Arizona based on their perceived immigration status in violation of a judge’s orders. The President has the authority to make this pardon, but doing so at this time undermines his claim for the respect of rule of law as Mr. Arpaio has shown no remorse for his actions.”

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