A group of 25 Democratic lawmakers are calling on a federal appeals court in California to invalidate President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE's pardon of Arizona's controversial former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

The lawmakers, including House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler Jerrold (Jerry) Lewis NadlerDemocrats shoot down talk of expanding Supreme Court Schumer: 'Nothing is off the table' if GOP moves forward with Ginsburg replacement Top Democrats call for DOJ watchdog to probe Barr over possible 2020 election influence MORE (D-N.Y.) and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Rep. Eric Swalwell Eric Michael SwalwellSwalwell calls for creation of presidential crimes commission to investigate Trump when he leaves office 'This already exists': Democrats seize on potential Trump executive order on preexisting conditions Swalwell: Barr has taken Michael Cohen's job as Trump's fixer MORE (D-Calif.), filed the brief last week, arguing that the presidential pardon “is an encroachment by the Executive on the independence of the Judiciary.”

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Trump in August 2017 made the controversial decision to pardon Arpaio, who had had been previously found guilty of racially profiling Latinos after a Justice Department investigation. He was also convicted of criminal contempt for disobeying a federal judge's order related to detaining people suspected of being in the United States illegally.

Trump said while offering Arpaio a pardon that the former sheriff kept "Arizona safe."

The brief, which was authored by former Rep. Brad Miller (D-N.C.), argues that the power of the courts to punish contempt is "essential to the independence of the judiciary." It also likens the court's ability to hold someone in contempt to that of Congress's.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals is currently evaluating a lower court decision to not vacate the contempt conviction, according to Roll Call.

“We have probably not heard the last of the potential for corrupt abuse of presidential pardons,” Miller said in a statement. “The old court decisions said the idea that the president might promise pardons to subordinates who violate the law at his direction was too unlikely to consider.”

The brief's filing comes as Democratic lawmakers threaten to hold Attorney General William Barr Bill BarrHarris faces pivotal moment with Supreme Court battle Hillicon Valley: DOJ proposes tech liability shield reform to Congress | Treasury sanctions individuals, groups tied to Russian malign influence activities | House Republican introduces bill to set standards for self-driving cars McCarthy threatens motion to oust Pelosi if she moves forward with impeachment MORE in contempt if he fails to release special counsel Robert Mueller Robert (Bob) MuellerCNN's Toobin warns McCabe is in 'perilous condition' with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting The Hill's 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE's full report.

The House Judiciary Committee scheduled a markup for that contempt citation for Wednesday.