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Faso critical of Trump for pardoning Arpaio

Aug 29, 2017 6:30 am

Patricia Doxsey is reporting in the Daily Freeman U.S. Rep. John Faso said on Mon., Aug. 28, that President Donald Trump's pardon of former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio send the "wrong message." Arpaio was sheriff in Maricopa County, Ariz. until losing a re-election bid in 2016. Following an eight-day trial in July, Arpaio was found guilty of misdemeanor contempt of court for ignoring a 2011 court order to stop patrols that targeted immigrants. Faso said Monday, “I disagree with the president’s decision to pardon in this instance. A law-enforcement officer should be held to a high standard in terms of complying with the law, and clearly he (Arpaio) didn’t not comply with the federal judge’s order.” While acknowledging the president has “broad powers of pardon” under the U.S. Constitution, Faso said pardons should be exercised in accordance with established guidelines and procedures, which he said, “I understand were not followed here.” Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.