Trump pardoned former Phoenix Sheriff Joseph Arpaio on Friday. Arpaio had been convicted of contempt of court. Arpaio had campaigned with Trump and his connections go back to Trump's birther efforts to delegitimize President Obama.
As Arpaio's federal case was headed to trial a few months ago Trump asked Attorney General Jeff Sessions if the case could be dropped (He was told no.). Just as he did when he asked FBI Director James Comey (who he fired over the Russia investigation) if the investigation of Michael Flynn (for Russia collusion) could be dropped. And, as the Washington Post reports today,
Trump also made separate appeals in March to Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats and National Security Agency Director Michael S. Rogers to publicly deny the existence of any evidence of collusion between the Russians and the Trump campaign during the 2016 election.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-asked-sessions-about-closing-case-against-arpaio-an-ally-since-birtherism/2017/08/26/15e5d7b2-8a7f-11e7-a94f-3139abce39f5_story.html?utm_term=.8efb080ee235
Trump wanted the case against Arpaio dropped because Arpaio was popular with his "base." The base of Trump's support is in the Kremlin.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-asked-sessions-about-closing-case-against-arpaio-an-ally-since-birtherism/2017/08/26/15e5d7b2-8a7f-11e7-a94f-3139abce39f5_story.html?utm_term=.8efb080ee235
Trump wanted the case against Arpaio dropped because Arpaio was popular with his "base." The base of Trump's support is in the Kremlin.
