# Is Trump going to Phoonix to pardon Joe Arpaio? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 22, 2017, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-going-to-phoonix-to-pardon-joe-arpaio/794376 "2017-08-22T16:21:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2017, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-going-to-phoonix-to-pardon-joe-arpaio/794376/1 "2017-08-22T16:21:04Z")
There is a lot of tension anticipated around President Trump’s visit to Arizona this evening. It just occurred to me that Trump might decide to announce a pardon of former Sheriff Joe Arpaio at the rally. What do you guys think? Possible? Probable? Unlikely? Not in a million years? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2017, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-going-to-phoonix-to-pardon-joe-arpaio/794376/2 "2017-08-22T16:29:12Z")
I think more likely than not. His base is unhappy with no wall and no America First foreign policy (and canning Bannon). I think he’ll throw them a bone ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2017, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-going-to-phoonix-to-pardon-joe-arpaio/794376/3 "2017-08-22T16:35:14Z")
Why shouldn’t he? Congress won’t do jack shit about it, he’ll still be in power and it won’t cost him any money. He doesn’t give a fuck about what is said about him, as long as he gets to keep the money and the power. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2017, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-going-to-phoonix-to-pardon-joe-arpaio/794376/4 "2017-08-22T16:40:52Z")
Like **Czarcasm** said, this would cost him nothing and would probably gain him a burst of crowd approval, which he seems to value more than almost anything else. So, why not? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2017, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-going-to-phoonix-to-pardon-joe-arpaio/794376/5 "2017-08-22T16:44:07Z")
Can anything _that he would actually give a fuck about_ be done to him if he pardons the little shit? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2017, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-going-to-phoonix-to-pardon-joe-arpaio/794376/6 "2017-08-22T16:44:58Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > There is a lot of tension anticipated around President Trump’s visit to Arizona this evening. It just occurred to me that Trump might decide to announce a pardon of former Sheriff Joe Arpaio at the rally. What do you guys think? Possible? Probable? Unlikely? Not in a million years? …and how do you feel about that? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2017, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-going-to-phoonix-to-pardon-joe-arpaio/794376/7 "2017-08-22T16:45:41Z")
It’s possible. The last update I saw from a few hours ago said that Arpaio had not been contacted by the administration and he was not invited to attend any events. That could change of course. He has not been sentenced so maybe it will wait until that. It doesn’t matter much anyway. He was convicted of a charge that has a max sentence of 6 months. No way he is getting that. He’s 85. He’s no longer sheriff. 30 days maybe. Probation more likely. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2017, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-going-to-phoonix-to-pardon-joe-arpaio/794376/8 "2017-08-22T16:46:42Z")
Wouldn’t surprise me if he did. The question is once he has said the (scripted) words doing the pardon, does he go off-script and say something outrageous to the (presumably adoring) multitudes? Time will tell but bears…shit…woods… ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2017, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-going-to-phoonix-to-pardon-joe-arpaio/794376/9 "2017-08-22T16:55:01Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > …and how do you feel about that? I don’t really have an opinion either way. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2017, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-going-to-phoonix-to-pardon-joe-arpaio/794376/10 "2017-08-22T16:57:04Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > It’s possible. The last update I saw from a few hours ago said that Arpaio had not been contacted by the administration and he was not invited to attend any events. That could change of course. He has not been sentenced so maybe it will wait until that. It doesn’t matter much anyway. He was convicted of a charge that has a max sentence of 6 months. No way he is getting that. He’s 85. He’s no longer sheriff. 30 days maybe. Probation more likely. Thanks for the info. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2017, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-going-to-phoonix-to-pardon-joe-arpaio/794376/11 "2017-08-22T17:01:18Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I don’t really have an opinion either way. No opinion either way, but cared enough to post an OP about it. Okay. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2017, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-going-to-phoonix-to-pardon-joe-arpaio/794376/12 "2017-08-22T17:11:31Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Can anything _that he would actually give a fuck about_ be done to him if he pardons the little shit? No. He’s the President; he can do this if he wants. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2017, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-going-to-phoonix-to-pardon-joe-arpaio/794376/13 "2017-08-22T17:20:15Z")
Sheriff Arpaio was trying to do his job under a President that didn’t support enforcement of immigration laws. Eight long and frustrating years for law enforcement. Arpaio eventually got in trouble with a judge for not backing down. I have no problem pardoning him. He’s out of office and ready for retirement. It serves no purpose in putting him in jail. Imho ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2017, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-going-to-phoonix-to-pardon-joe-arpaio/794376/14 "2017-08-22T17:26:19Z")
Would a presidential pardon in this case signal to other prosecutors elsewhere that there’s no percentage in pursuing other cases that might be in the works? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2017, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-going-to-phoonix-to-pardon-joe-arpaio/794376/15 "2017-08-22T17:35:03Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Can anything _that he would actually give a fuck about_ be done to him if he pardons the little shit? It was a federal contempt charge. The president has pardon powers for federal offenses. What do you think should be done to the president for following the constitution? I’m no Trump or Arpio fan but come on it’s not that difficult a concept. I wasn’t very happy when Obama let a terrorist go free but I knew he was well within his constitutional powers to do it. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2017, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-going-to-phoonix-to-pardon-joe-arpaio/794376/16 "2017-08-22T17:37:43Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > Would a presidential pardon in this case signal to other prosecutors elsewhere that there’s no percentage in pursuing other cases that might be in the works? The president has the power to pardon. That’s always been the case. If he abuses the power to obstruct investigations he can be impeached. That is certainly not the case with Arpaio. The fact that the president has certain powers won’t stop prosecutors. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2017, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-going-to-phoonix-to-pardon-joe-arpaio/794376/17 "2017-08-22T17:43:56Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Sheriff Arpaio was trying to do his job under a President that didn’t support enforcement of immigration laws. Eight long and frustrating years for law enforcement. > > \*\*Arpaio eventually got in trouble with a judge for not backing down. > \*\* > I have no problem pardoning him. He’s out of office and ready for retirement. > > It serves no purpose in putting him in jail. Imho He got in trouble for not obeying a court order. What makes you think he should be above the law or be allowed to exceed his authority or ignore the authority of the court? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2017, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-going-to-phoonix-to-pardon-joe-arpaio/794376/18 "2017-08-22T17:51:14Z")
Because he was a Sheriff trying to enforce immigration laws passed by Congress. It wasn’t his fault that it became politically unpopular. Congress needs to make up its mind. Repeal them or let law enforcement do its job. I agree the Sheriff should have backed down. Kissed the judge’s butt. You gotta know which way the wind is blowing, politically. Back down when required. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2017, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-going-to-phoonix-to-pardon-joe-arpaio/794376/19 "2017-08-22T17:53:58Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Because he was a Sheriff trying to enforce immigration laws passed by Congress. > > It wasn’t his fault that it became politically unpopular. > > Congress needs to make up its mind. Repeal them or let law enforcement do its job. He has no **authority** to enforce immigration law. That is a Federal matter. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2017, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-going-to-phoonix-to-pardon-joe-arpaio/794376/20 "2017-08-22T17:58:24Z")
Local law enforcement has always worked closely with the Feds to enforce immigration law. Well, until recently. Everything changed under Obama. Now we got cities refusing to turn illegals over to immigration. But that’s a different thread. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trump-going-to-phoonix-to-pardon-joe-arpaio/794376.md?page=2)