SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
Sheriff Joe Arpaio was found guilty of contempt of court in July, after he refused to stop racially profiling Latinos in Arizona. (Photo: Gage Skidmore/Flickr/cc)
Trump Pardon Does Nothing To Make Sheriff Arpaio Less Guilty, Says Judge
In ruling, federal judge notes that Arpaio's acceptance of the pardon amounts to an admission of guilt
Oct 20, 2017
A federal judge refused to erase history Thursday, stating that former Sheriff Joe Arpaio is still guilty of criminal contempt of court for defying orders to stop racially profiling Latinos--despite President Donald Trump's pardon of Arpaio in August.
The pardon did not "revise the historical facts of this case," said U.S. District Judge Susan Ritchie Bolton in her ruling.
Bolton convicted Arpaio in July for violating the constitutional rights of residents in Maricopa County, Arizona after an earlier order barred him from doing so. Arpaio, a loyal Trump supporter, was notorious for detaining Latinos without any evidence of wrongdoing. He established a detention center known as Tent City where inmates were regularly humiliated and exposed to extreme temperatures, drawing condemnation from human rights groups.
Arpaio faced a maximum of six months in prison for his crimes, before Trump announced that he would pardon him, calling him "an American patriot!" on Twitter and thanking him for his "years of admirable service to our nation."
The judge noted in her ruling that a pardon "does not blot out guilt or expunge a judgment of conviction," and actually implies that Arpaio is in fact guilty.
"Indeed, a pardon 'carries an imputation of guilt; acceptance a confession of it," Bolton wrote, quoting Black's Law Dictionary.
The ruling is consistent with Department of Justice guidance stating that pardoned offenses will not be removed from a pardoned individual's criminal record.
While Arpaio has attempted to have his conviction voided, four legal advocacy groups have challenged his pardon. On Monday, the groups filed a request asking Bolton to appoint a private attorney to appeal her earlier decision to let the pardon stand.
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
A federal judge refused to erase history Thursday, stating that former Sheriff Joe Arpaio is still guilty of criminal contempt of court for defying orders to stop racially profiling Latinos--despite President Donald Trump's pardon of Arpaio in August.
The pardon did not "revise the historical facts of this case," said U.S. District Judge Susan Ritchie Bolton in her ruling.
Bolton convicted Arpaio in July for violating the constitutional rights of residents in Maricopa County, Arizona after an earlier order barred him from doing so. Arpaio, a loyal Trump supporter, was notorious for detaining Latinos without any evidence of wrongdoing. He established a detention center known as Tent City where inmates were regularly humiliated and exposed to extreme temperatures, drawing condemnation from human rights groups.
Arpaio faced a maximum of six months in prison for his crimes, before Trump announced that he would pardon him, calling him "an American patriot!" on Twitter and thanking him for his "years of admirable service to our nation."
The judge noted in her ruling that a pardon "does not blot out guilt or expunge a judgment of conviction," and actually implies that Arpaio is in fact guilty.
"Indeed, a pardon 'carries an imputation of guilt; acceptance a confession of it," Bolton wrote, quoting Black's Law Dictionary.
The ruling is consistent with Department of Justice guidance stating that pardoned offenses will not be removed from a pardoned individual's criminal record.
While Arpaio has attempted to have his conviction voided, four legal advocacy groups have challenged his pardon. On Monday, the groups filed a request asking Bolton to appoint a private attorney to appeal her earlier decision to let the pardon stand.
A federal judge refused to erase history Thursday, stating that former Sheriff Joe Arpaio is still guilty of criminal contempt of court for defying orders to stop racially profiling Latinos--despite President Donald Trump's pardon of Arpaio in August.
The pardon did not "revise the historical facts of this case," said U.S. District Judge Susan Ritchie Bolton in her ruling.
Bolton convicted Arpaio in July for violating the constitutional rights of residents in Maricopa County, Arizona after an earlier order barred him from doing so. Arpaio, a loyal Trump supporter, was notorious for detaining Latinos without any evidence of wrongdoing. He established a detention center known as Tent City where inmates were regularly humiliated and exposed to extreme temperatures, drawing condemnation from human rights groups.
Arpaio faced a maximum of six months in prison for his crimes, before Trump announced that he would pardon him, calling him "an American patriot!" on Twitter and thanking him for his "years of admirable service to our nation."
The judge noted in her ruling that a pardon "does not blot out guilt or expunge a judgment of conviction," and actually implies that Arpaio is in fact guilty.
"Indeed, a pardon 'carries an imputation of guilt; acceptance a confession of it," Bolton wrote, quoting Black's Law Dictionary.
The ruling is consistent with Department of Justice guidance stating that pardoned offenses will not be removed from a pardoned individual's criminal record.
While Arpaio has attempted to have his conviction voided, four legal advocacy groups have challenged his pardon. On Monday, the groups filed a request asking Bolton to appoint a private attorney to appeal her earlier decision to let the pardon stand.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.