Donald Trump’s Pardon Breathes New Life Into Joe Arpaio’s Birther Movement

Former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio was at a Republican fundraiser in Fresno, CA, last Friday night, causing controversy like he usually does. The pardoned criminal, promised that he would not yield on his crusade to “prove” that former President Barack Obama is not a United States citizen.

The 85-year-old American, was pardoned of his contempt charges by Donald Trump only last month, and Arpaio has taken this new opportunity to pursue his birtherism claims.

The fundraiser which was held at the Sunnyside Health & Tennis Club, held 200 attendees at a cost of $200 dollars per person. Not surprisingly most Republican politicians from California missed the event, mostly because they appreciate their jobs and wouldn’t jeopardize their political future over a decrepit old criminal and his conspiracy theories.

Newsweek reporters were commissioned to cover this event, and found a lot of similarities between Arpaio and president Donald Trump, who came to the former Sheriff’s rescue, when he was facing time for refusing direct orders to stop racially profiling Latinos and violating human rights in the state of Arizona.
“Much like the president, Arpaio seems to thrive on conflict and to derive immense pleasure from theatrics,” wrote Newsweek in its coverage of the fundraiser.

Jeffrey Hess a reporter with Valley Public Radio, an NPR affiliate in Central California, confronted Arpaio in the press conference, over his “wildly irresponsible claim” about the birth of President Obama. “Are you serious?” Hess asked, “I’m just curious if you’re actually, seriously continuing this well-debunked argument. I can’t tell if you’re serious or not.”

Image credit to Newsweek

Much to the disgrace of our country, Arpaio is dead serious about his belief and claims that the facts are there, just like Donald Trump did for so many years, whom is one of the major contributors to the birther movement.

Another thing Arpaio is most unfortunately serious about, is getting back into politics, as he told The Mercury News in an interview earlier in the week. He is currently rallying as much of the #MAGA (Make America Great Again) right-wingers as he can, with the hopes that he can soon run for Senate.

Joe also claims to have been inspired by Trump and even went as far as calling him his hero. “It took me 85 years to finally know in my own heart who my hero is,” As he told the Mercury News. “You know who that person is? The president of the United States.” This would be a ‘cute’ statement if it were coming from a kid, but it sounds troubling and even creepy coming from a man who has one foot inside the grave, at 85-years-old you would believe that a person would have his priorities straight.