On Monday, Morning Joe co-host Joe Scarborough hypothesized that if articles of impeachment are ever brought against President Trump, his decision to pardon former Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio may well be used as evidence of Trump's "abuse of powers." Scarborough conceded that Trump "had the authority to do this," but he argued that Trump didn't "let the judicial process play itself out" by pardoning Arpaio, who was convicted in July of criminal contempt for defying an order to stop imprisoning suspected undocumented immigrants.
Scarborough struggled to explain Trump's decision to pardon a man who has committed a "list of horrors." "This guy is a complete thug. Doesn't respect the rule of law. Donald Trump, why did he do this? Who knows. Maybe it's throwing more red meat out there. It's not something that even Republicans support," Scarborough said, adding that even the Arizona law enforcement community "hates Arpaio" because he's "punished people basically doing some things amounting to torture."
Scarborough's best explanation for Trump's pardon? "Donald Trump mistakes this for being tough on law and order."
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