The Pardoning of Sheriff Joe Arpaio

Point 1 - Unethical behavior of Sheriff Arpaio Prior to the allegations against Sheriff Arpaio for racially profiling Latinos as illegal immigrants, the Sheriff was known for several other “unorthodox” styles of running prison. Such as requiring inmates to wear pink underwear or forcing inmates to stay in tents during the blistering Arizona summers [1]. Or the fact that there were two meatless meals a day that were served with the Food Channel purposely on, or even the fact that Arpaio referred to the prison once as a “concentration camp”. [2] This stuff isn’t technically illegal, but it gives you a clear insight to how disgusting of a person Arpaio is and the irony of Trump’s statements that Arpaio is a “patriotic man” who “does his job protecting Arizona”. I just don’t know how you can defend a man like that, let alone PRESIDENTIALLY PARDON. Here are more instances Prisoners in his jails died often; often without no explanation An inmate who was paraplegic and asked for a catheter almost had his neck broken by one of his jailers He botched hundreds of sex crimes cases of underage girls, oh and ... one of his “sheriff’s posse” was indicted for child pornography He marched only Latinx prisoners into a segregated area with electric fencing A black woman horrifically lost her baby in his jail A prisoner baked to death in his cell at a temperature of 109 degrees He sent a deputy to Hawaii to “look for Barack Obama’s birth certificate” He was ordered to pay the Phoenix New Times co-founders $3.75 million dollars for false arrests His people killed a puppy in a botched SWAT raid. [3] This is only scratching the surface, however. Let’s get into what got Sheriff Arpaio actually in trouble. In the early 2000’s, Sheriff Arpaio began to try to tackle the problem of illegal immigration. While you might argue that this focus became a success, due to the hundreds of actual illegal immigrants arrested, violent crimes went unfunded since the Sheriff blew his entire budget on illegal immigration. Sex crimes and other violent crimes were not able to be investigated until much later [4]. Further, due to the recession and dispute with local authorities for the budget on illegal immigrations, taxpayers in maricopa county ended up having to pay $44 Million dollars due to the abundance of infighting, lawsuits, etc. [5] However, “In 2011, the Justice Department concluded the sheriff’s office engaged in systemic racial profiling of Latinos”. Essentially, Mr. Arpaio here detained individuals simply for suspecting that they were illegal immigrants without these said individuals breaking ANY state law. [6]Imagine being pulled over and being questioned whether or not you’re an illegal immigrant simply because you are Latino. Do you know how humiliating that is? How disrespectful that is? How downright racist that is? If that isn’t racial profiling, I don’t know what is. Further, even though U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow told Arpaio to stop racially profiling Latinos, Arpaio brazenly ignored this order and continued this practice. Consequently, he was convited of criminal contempt [7] However, luckily for him, our idiot in chief pardoned him. Point 2 - Very Similar views to Trump Now why did Trump pardon Sheriff Arpaio? Maybe because Sheriff Arpaio also questioned Obama’s birth record? [8] Maybe because Sheriff Arpaio was the face of illegal immigration crackdown as we have already seen? Further, in the Iowa Cacus in 2016, Arpaio officially endorsed Donald Trump in his run for president, stating “I have fought on the front lines to prevent illegal immigration. I know Donald Trump will stand with me and countless Americans to secure our border." Arpaio was even given a speaking slot in the Republican convention and could have potentially become the head of the department of Homeland Security. He even sent “thank you notes” to Donald Trump for questioning Obama’s birth record [9] The similarity between these two is simply conspicuous. Point 3 - Timing I don’t know, maybe I’m insane, but doesn’t it seem just a bit suspicious that this pardoning took place is the mist of the hurricane heading right for the state of texas? While the entirety of Congress and the government as a whole is trying to find ways to help Texas, Trump pardons the Sheriff. While this isn’t a fact, it SEEMS that Trump is hiding behind the hurricane. I’m not the only one who sees it like this, Minority Leader Senator Chuck Schumer accused Trump of “using the cover of the storm” to pardon Sheriff Arpaio [10]. If this is true - which, in my opinion, seems it is - then this is undeniably weak, sad, and just plain cowardly. Further, he didn’t even consult with the Justice Department; this isn’t illegal, but it also raises eyebrows. [11] Conclusion As the reader can see, the Sheriff has had a long history of unethical behvaior, criminal accusations, etc. and shows very similar views to Trump, even going as far as to endorse him or write him "Thank-you" notes. Consequently, Trump decides to immediately pardon (not even consulting the Justice Department, where the pardon goes under tedious evaluation for months) him for apparent personal reasons. Even going as far as lying to the public through his very teeth by calling the Sheriff a "patriotic man" while the entirety of the government is focusing on the hurricane heading right to Texas. The Sheriff should NOT be able to get away from racially profiling Lations simply because Donald Trump "likes him", it is a disgusting abuse of power that should not be tolerated. The discrimantory behavior that the Sheriff manifests is nearly unconsutional and should be ABOLISHED from this nation where the founding principles are based on EQUALITY. Stoping latinos at traffic lights and accusing them of being illegal immigrants on the sole reason that they are Lations... I just have no words for that, it is has no place in this nation. I can not believe that people can call themselves religious, and yet hide their eyes from the blatant rascism that exists both in Trump and the Sheriff, even though practically all religions preach equality. I can not believe that people call themselves PATRIOTIC and yet hide their eyes from the destruction of our founding principles. I can not believe that people call themselves AMERICANS and yet hide their eyes in utter ignorance, calling anything they disagree with fake news. I just simply can't comprehend what is happening to this nation.Links [1] - https://www.washingtonpost.com... [2] - https://www.nytimes.com... [3] - http://www.theroot.com... [4] - https://www.washingtonpost.com... [5] - http://nocache.azcentral.com... [6] - https://www.nytimes.com... [7] - https://www.washingtonpost.com... [8] - http://www.cnn.com... [9] - http://www.cnn.com... [10] - https://www.nytimes.com... [11] - http://www.cnn.com...