Joe Arpaio suggests he might challenge Trump critic Jeff Flake for Senate
Just days after being pardoned by President Trump, former Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio floated the possibility of running against one of Trump's favorite targets and biggest critics in Congress, Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.). Arpaio, who was convicted in July of criminal contempt for defying an order to stop imprisoning suspected undocumented immigrants, told The Washington Examiner he's been "getting a lot of people around the state" asking him to challenge Flake. "All I'm saying is the door is open and we'll see what happens. I've got support. I know what support I have," Arpaio said, also suggesting he could run for mayor or legislator.
When Arpaio lost re-election in 2016, ending his 24-year tenure as sheriff, he swore off running for office again. But now, he says, he feels Republicans are "insufficiently supportive of the president," whom he thinks is "a great man," the Examiner reported. Arpaio is also fed up with the suggestions that, at 85 years old, he's too old to run. "[T]here is discrimination against senior citizens, big time," said Arpaio, who was convicted of racial profiling.
Already, Flake is facing a primary challenge from former state senator Kelli Ward, who seemingly earned Trump's endorsement after the president sent a tweet that bashed Flake as "WEAK on borders, crime, and a non-factor in [the] Senate."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Donald Trump’s week in Asia: can he shift power away from China?Today's Big Question US president’s whirlwind week of diplomacy aims to bolster economic ties and de-escalate trade war with China
-
The Icelandic women’s strike 50 years onIn The Spotlight The nation is ‘still no paradise’ for women, say campaigners
-
Mall World: why are people dreaming about a shopping centre?Under The Radar Thousands of strangers are dreaming about the same thing and no one sure why
-
NY attorney general asks public for ICE raid footageSpeed Read Rep. Dan Goldman claims ICE wrongly detained four US citizens in the Canal Street raid and held them for a whole day without charges
-
Trump’s huge ballroom to replace razed East WingSpeed Read The White House’s east wing is being torn down amid ballroom construction
-
Trump expands boat strikes to Pacific, killing 5 moreSpeed Read The US military destroyed two more alleged drug smuggling boats in international waters
-
Trump demands millions from his administrationSpeed Read The president has requested $230 million in compensation from the Justice Department for previous federal investigations
-
Trump nominee in limbo after racist texts leakSpeed Read Paul Ingrassia lost Republican support following the exposure of past racist text messages
-
Trump begins East Wing demolition for ballroomspeed read The president’s new construction will cost $250 million
-
Appeals court clears Trump’s Portland troop deploymentSpeed Read A divided federal appeals court ruled that President Trump can send the National Guard to Portland
-
Millions turn out for anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ ralliesSpeed Read An estimated 7 million people participated, 2 million more than at the first ‘No Kings’ protest in June