Former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio told Newsmax TV Saturday he doesn't blame law enforcement officers for not going after people who are breaking lockdown restrictions in places like California and New York because they have "other priorities" that are more important right now.
"I look at them to make up their own decisions," the famous Arizona lawman told Newsmax TV's "The Count." "They have to report to their own constituency."
All sheriffs have their own way of doing business, Arpaio said, and he doesn't criticize them when they're not enforcing the laws set up by governors like California Gov. Gavin Newsom and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
However, Arpaio did praise President Donald Trump for his push behind the development of a coronavirus vaccine.
"He knows how to deal with CEOs," said Arpaio. "When you talk about the vaccine, he's the one that got that going ... he doesn't get the credit he deserves when he knows how to negotiate with big companies. Look how quick they rushed the vaccine to help the people of this country."
Arpaio also said that he's urging Trump not to surrender the 2020 election until the final results are in.
"I pointed out that he would be the next president," Arpaio said. "Something in my gut told me he would be a great president."
Arpaio added that Trump has got to have a "trick up his sleeve" where the election is concerned.
Trump also pardoned Arpaio in 2017, and the sheriff said that came after he was targeted for his stance on immigration and on President Barack Obama's birth certificate.
They went after me," he said. "The president pardoned me and I thanked him for that."
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Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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