President Donald Trump hinted — well, more than hinted, really — during his Phoenix rally he was going to pardon former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio soon.

And well he should. What happened to Arpaio was a political hit job.

The 85-year-old former sheriff was convicted a month ago of misdemeanor criminal contempt by U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton — a Bill Clinton appointee. The case stemmed from Arpaio’s refusal to cease and desist what his political opponents called “racial profiling” on immigration-related enforcement matters that was practiced during his tenure as county sheriff.

He was just sentenced to six months in jail.

What’s even more interesting about the case — and more politically hatchet-like — is that Arpaio’s attorneys petitioned like crazy for the case to be heard by jury, not judge. But Bolton said no, and no again. Why?

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Think about it. Arpaio served as elected sheriff for 20-plus years. A jury trial by his peers likely would’ve seen him cleared of all charges. Federal prosecutors serving under the Barack Obama administration very likely changed Arpaio’s charges to a misdemeanor in order to avoid the constitutional mandate to provide a jury.

As Breitbart noted: “Because Arpaio was charged only with a misdemeanor punishable by a maximum of six months in jail, the U.S. Constitution does not guarantee him a right to trial by a jury of his peers.”

So bench trial it was — and Bolton came through for the feds with the maximum six months.

Trump, speaking from Arizona, touched a nerve.

“So was Sheriff Joe convicted of doing his job? He should have had a jury,” Trump said.

And he added this: “I’ll make a prediction. I think he’s going to be just fine.”

Quite right. Arpaio did indeed face the wrath of the liberal political and pro-amnesty world for simply, as Trump said, “doing his job.” For that, he was convicted. But for that, he’ll go down in history as a true patriot of principle. And now, he should be pardoned by the president. It’s time to send a message to the left that carting a law-and-order torch will no longer make the carrier a target for political takedown.

© Copyright (c) 2017 News World Communications, Inc.

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This content is published through a licensing agreement with Acquire Media using its NewsEdge technology.

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