Arpaio Pardon Doesn't Mean Conviction Just Goes Away

Former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio may have been handed a very unusual pardon by President Trump, but that doesn't mean his conviction for criminal contempt automatically goes away. That was the ruling from federal Judge Susan Bolton on Tuesday.

Arpaio's lawyers, pardon in hand, had asked Bolton to vacate the former sheriff's conviction.

Arpaio had been convicted of ignoring a judge's ruling to stop immigration patrols that had been found to violate the civil rights of people picked up.

While Arpaio originally boasted of ignoring the judge's order, at trial, he maintained that the order had been vague and he didn't intentionally disregard it.

Arpaio had been facing six months in prison when sentenced on Oct. 5.

Bolton canceled that sentencing and instead scheduled a hearing for the day before about whether Arpaio's conviction should be thrown out.

Arpaio's lawyers want the conviction tossed because if it remains on his record — it will be seen as he had committed a crime and could affect his sentencing if he ever were convicted of another crime.

Both sides have to file arguments with the judge.

"In the middle of a hurricane, even though it was a Friday evening, I assumed the ratings would be far higher than they were normally," he said at a White House press conference with the president of Finland on Monday.

"A lot of people think it was the right thing to do," Trump said of the pardon. (For more local news, subscribe to the Phoenix Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. For more information and updates on this and other political stories, subscribe to the White House Patch.)

The pardon of Arpaio — who had been convicted in federal court of contempt for ignoring a judge's order that he stop immigration patrols that violated people's civil rights — has been attacked not only by Democrats but by top Republicans, including both of Arizona's senators and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan.

Also See: Trump Invokes Clinton And Obama To Defend Pardoning Arpaio

Photo: Jeff J. Mtichell/Getty Images News/Getty Images