THE FIX WAS IN: What happened after Trump pressured Sessions to drop Arpaio probe
Another day, another leak damaging to The Donald:
As Joseph Arpaio’s federal case headed toward trial this past spring, President Trump wanted to act to help the former Arizona county sheriff who had become a campaign-trail companion and a partner in their crusade against illegal immigration.
The president asked Attorney General Jeff Sessions whether it would be possible for the government to drop the criminal case against Arpaio, but was advised that would be inappropriate, according to three people with knowledge of the conversation.
After talking with Sessions, Trump decided to let the case go to trial, and if Arpaio was convicted, he could grant clemency.
So the president waited, all the while planning to issue a pardon if Arpaio was found in contempt of court for defying a federal judge’s order to stop detaining people merely because he suspected them of being undocumented immigrants. Trump was, in the words of one associate, “gung-ho about it.”
So the fix was in from day one.
One has to wonder if Trump clued his good-ol’-boy racist lawman buddy and co-conspirator in peddling Obama birther nonsense.
We would be shocked if he didn’t.
The Justice Department declined to comment.
That wouldn’t be prudent, especially if Sessions decides it might be a good idea to invoke the 25th amendment.
Trump’s pardon, issued without consulting the Justice Department, raised a storm of protest over the weekend, including from some fellow Republicans, and threatens to become a stain on the president’s legacy.
BECOME?
Trump planned to subvert justice for Arpaio’s felonies from day one.
That’s about five degrees of corruption worse than, say, garden variety obstruction.
Impeachment and removal, anyone? It’s not as if Trump hasn’t made enough Republican enemies to make it possible…
