Joe Arpaio, the former Arizona sheriff whose illegal immigration tactics landed him nearly six months in prison – before he was approached by President Donald Trump – has lost his second attempt to regain the position.
The 88-year-old former law enforcement officer and politician lost his second failed bid to regain the position he held for 24 years in the Maricopa sheriff’s office, to Jerry Sheridan, his 38-year-old former aide.
Arpaio was found guilty of criminal contempt of court, a rare charge for a sheriff to testify while serving in the office, after repeatedly refusing to comply with court orders requiring him to provide information on enforcement of immigration – or to stop immigration arrests altogether.
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The sheriff was known throughout the country for his controversial immigration agenda, which included enforcing federal immigration law for nine years, which ended with a judge ruling that his deputies profiled Latino’s race at traffic jams.
His legal battles weigh on his campaign for re-election in 2016, when he lost while fighting a lawsuit filed by a Mexican man with a valid tourist visa, who was wrongfully detained for nine hours . That case eventually escalated into a class action lawsuit against Arpaio and the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.
Before he could convict, Mr. Trump stepped in and apologized to Arpaio, with the White House praising the former sheriff’s career in a statement at the time.
“Throughout his tenure as sheriff, Arpaio continued his life’s work to protect the public from the screams of crime and illegal immigration,” the statement said. “Sheriff Joe Arpaio is now 85 years old, and after more than 50 years of admirable service to our nation, he is (a) worthy of a presidential shield.”
With his latest failure to win back the seat, his former aide, Mr Sheridan, will advance in the general election against Democratic official Paul Penzone.
Mr. Penzone sailed for victory in the 2016 election against Mr. Arpaio, who then launched a failed bid for the U.S. Senate in 2018.
Mr. Sheridan has promised to implement a hardline approach to immigration if chosen, similar to that of his former boss and predecessor.
Meanwhile, Mr Arpaio has suggested he would no longer run for office, telling The New York Times: “I’m still the longest serving sheriff in Maricopa County history. No one will hit you one. ”
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