On reflection, this is probably the worst thing Trump has done yet. Joe Arpaio is a law enforcement person who broke the law, and then was ordered by the courts to stop breaking the law. And then he kept doing it, so they had a trial and a conviction on contempt of court. And Trump swoops in and says "lol nope", and pardons his friend because they agree on politics. And that politics is the politics of racism.
The takeaway here is that he's basically telling law enforcement across the country that they are above the law, and that law enforcement based on racial animus is not a crime. He is stripping the court's powers to enforce laws, if ignoring a court order is not criminal behavior. Seriously, it's pretty bad guys. Greatly weakening the social fabric just to save one old dude six months in jail. As always Trump only sees the immediate results.
This may not fit the lawbook definition of obstruction of justice, but it sure feels like obstruction of justice. Like obstruction of the concept of justice itself.-- ?×V
The takeaway here is that he's basically telling law enforcement across the country that they are above the law, and that law enforcement based on racial animus is not a crime. He is stripping the court's powers to enforce laws, if ignoring a court order is not criminal behavior. Seriously, it's pretty bad guys. Greatly weakening the social fabric just to save one old dude six months in jail. As always Trump only sees the immediate results.
This may not fit the lawbook definition of obstruction of justice, but it sure feels like obstruction of justice. Like obstruction of the concept of justice itself.-- ?×V