An unforgiveable pardon for Sheriff Joe

Trump’s pardon for Joe Arpaio shows contempt for the rule of law

The Economist
Aug 28, 2017 · 5 min read
In this Jan. 26, 2016 file photo, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, left, is joined by Maricopa County, Ariz., Sheriff Joe Arpaio during a new conference in Marshalltown, Iowa — AP Photo/Mary Altaffer

The powers of pardon bestowed on an American president — modelled on those enjoyed by English monarchs in centuries past — are so sweeping and awful that they impose their own discipline on chief executives, or so Alexander Hamilton predicted in Federalist 74. The responsibility of…

This story is just a click away.

Sign up for a free Medium account to read this story from Medium. Plus, get one more story in your member preview this month.
Already have an account? Sign in

The Economist

Written by

Insight and opinion on international news, politics, business, finance, science, technology, books and arts.

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade