The Hill reports:

President Trump has pardoned former Maricopa County, Ariz., sheriff Joe Arpaio, the White House announced Friday night.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders had said earlier this week that Trump would make an announcement on Arpaio at an “appropriate time.”

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Trump had hinted at a rally in Phoenix on Tuesday that he was preparing to pardon the controversial former sheriff who was convicted of criminal contempt.

Arpaio was convicted July 31 of criminal contempt by a federal judge for disobeying a federal order on detaining individuals suspected of being in the U.S. illegally.