Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersJacobin editor: Primarying Schumer would force him to fight Trump's SCOTUS nominee Trump campaign plays up Biden's skills ahead of Cleveland debate: 'He's actually quite good' Young voters backing Biden by 2:1 margin: poll MORE (I-Vt.) slammed President Trump's pardoning of former Sheriff Joe Arpaio on Friday, saying Trump was using his pardoning power to "defend racism."

"By pardoning Sheriff Arpaio, Trump has again made clear he will use the powers of the presidency to defend racism and discrimination," Sanders wrote in a tweet.

By pardoning Sheriff Arpaio, Trump has again made clear he will use the powers of the presidency to defend racism and discrimination. — Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) August 26, 2017

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Sanders joined others on the left who have blasted Trump's pardon.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said the decision "makes a mockery of rule of law," while the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said the decision was a "presidential endorsement of racism."

Arpaio, who is the former sheriff of Maricopa County, Ariz., was found guilty in a Justice Department investigation of racially profiling Latinos. He was convicted last month of criminal contempt for disobeying a federal judge's order on continuing the practice.