'A middle finger to America': What people are saying about Trump's first presidential pardon

Updated

President Donald Trump's pardon of former Maricopa County, Arizona, sheriff Joe Arpaio received some mixed reactions on Friday night, but lawmakers and civil-rights advocates largely condemned the move.

Arpaio, a staunch Trump supporter and compatriot in Trump's yearslong and fruitless quest to disprove President Barack Obama's citizenship, was found guilty last month of criminal contempt for violating the terms of a 2011 court order in a racial profiling case.

He lost a re-election bid last year. The 85-year-old lawman thanked Trump for the pardon and lauded him for "standing by law enforcement."

Here's what other people are saying about Trump's pardon of Arpaio:

See Also:

SEE ALSO: Trump pardons former Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio

Advertisement