Twitter Flips After White House Announces Joe Arpaio Pardon: ‘A Pardon of Racism’

Twitter was a little shocked tonight at the news of President Trump pardoning Sheriff Joe Arpaio amid national coverage of a category 4 hurricane.

The Arpaio pardon was not entirely unexpected, as Trump hinted at it earlier this week, but people were still surprised:

Bill Clinton's pardon of Marc Rich stunk to high heaven. Donald Trump's pardon of Joe Arpaio stinks even more.

— Preet Bharara (@PreetBharara) August 26, 2017

Pardon of Arpaio is explicit embrace of the racist policing practices that leave communities fearful of very ppl who should protect & serve.

— NAACP (@NAACP) August 26, 2017

Sheriff Arpaio discriminated against Latinos, violated the Constitution and was found guilty of racial profiling. Now Trump sides with him.

— JORGE RAMOS (@jorgeramosnews) August 26, 2017

Trump's Arpaio pardon another example of just how morally bankrupt Trump is. What a national embarrassment they both are. #failedPOTUS

— Julián Castro (@JulianCastro) August 26, 2017

There can be few people in America less deserving of a pardon than Joe Arpaio, so of course Trump pardons him because ha ha LOL civic norms.

— Jeff B/DDHQ (@EsotericCD) August 26, 2017

By the way, we can condemn this frankly totalitarian and lawless pardon without implicitly excusing prior corrupt pardons, like Clinton's.

— VeryFinePopehat (@Popehat) August 26, 2017

What is particularly terrible about this pardon is the terrible message it sends to America's Hispanic community. Just sickening all around.

— John Weaver (@JWGOP) August 26, 2017

Sen. Patrick Leahy REAX To #Arpaio Pardon: "It is disheartening that the President set the bar so very low for his first pardon. (1 of 6)

— Sen. Patrick Leahy (@SenatorLeahy) August 26, 2017

This pardon, giving succor to a supporter who openly flaunted a federal court order, is a blazingly bright signal to Flynn, Manafort et al.

— southpaw (@nycsouthpaw) August 26, 2017

No coincidence Gorka resigns and Arpaio gets pardoned same night. The base was not going to like the 1st. So he threw them a bone on 2nd.

— Ana Navarro (@ananavarro) August 26, 2017

With his pardon of Arpaio, President Trump has chosen lawlessness over justice, division over unity, hurt over healing.

— ACLU National (@ACLU) August 26, 2017

This isn't just a pardon of Arpaio himself. It is a pardon of racism and bigotry. https://t.co/VVQpUyQbuc

— Raul M. Grijalva (@RepRaulGrijalva) August 26, 2017

Of particular note are the reactions of Arizona Senator Jeff Flake and his Republican primary opponent Kelli Ward:

Regarding the Arpaio pardon, I would have preferred that the President honor the judicial process and let it take its course.

— Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) August 26, 2017

Thank you, @realDonaldTrump so glad you #pardoned @RealSheriffJoe – a patriot who did the job the Feds refused to do #StopIllegalImmigration pic.twitter.com/RlNm0Hr3b9

— Dr. Kelli Ward (@kelliwardaz) August 26, 2017

[image via screengrab]

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Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

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