Joe Arpaio, the tough-talking former Arizona sheriff known for his iron-fisted crackdown on illegal immigrants, told Newsmax TV he is heartened President Donald Trump is "seriously considering" pardoning him on a criminal contempt conviction.
But he added he is ready to fight the conviction all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary.
"I don't expect anything in return from the president, but I think he understands that this is a travesty, and he's just trying to correct it, doing the right thing, and he has the courage and the guts to do it," Arpaio told guest host Rita Cosby on Monday's "The Schnitt Show."
"My wife loves the president . . . and I'm sure she's been praying. I've been married 55 years, done battles all over the world . . . She's never really took it too hard, but it's been bugging her a little thinking that I'm going to jail for six months for a misdemeanor."
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Trump told Fox News on Sunday he is "seriously considering" pardoning Arpaio, who was found guilty of criminal contempt July 31 for violating the terms of a 2011 court order in a racial profiling case.
A U.S. district judge in Phoenix said he willfully disregarded an Arizona judge's order to stop anti-immigrant traffic patrols. Arpaio continued the patrols for another 17 months.
"I didn't ask for [the pardon]," Arpaio told Cosby. "I appreciate his offer and, of course, will accept because I didn't do anything wrong. I'm not guilty of these misdemeanor charges. I'm ready to fight this all the way to the Supreme Court. But this helps a little."
The 85-year-old lawman, who lost his bid for re-election as Maricopa County sheriff last November after 24 years in office, faces a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a fine when he is sentenced Oct. 5.
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