Former Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Arizona’s Maricopa County insisted in a Monday interview that he “didn’t do anything wrong,” calling on U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton to reverse his conviction even after he was pardoned by President Trump.
Arpaio, who was convicted of criminal contempt for refusing to obey a court order that he stop his immigration patrols, said “the bias and everything else” from Bolton is “all documented.” He called out his critics for slamming him at such a time.
“Why are they speaking out right now? I’ve been sheriff for 24 years. Are they coming out against me because of a biased judge?” Arpaio asked The Associated Press.
{mosads}Trump has faced bipartisan criticism for pardoning Arpaio, whose lawyers went to court Monday to throw out the basis for his conviction.
Trump called Arpaio “a patriot” earlier in the day at the White House, saying it was “very, very unfair” the way “they just hammered him before the election.”
The former sheriff was voted out office last year, but he has not ruled out a return to politics.
“I haven’t decided,” Arpaio told the AP. “But I haven’t gone away.”
Earlier Monday, he floated a possible challenge to Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake, one of Trump’s most prominent Republican critics.