President Trump issued a full pardon Monday to a former Virginia sheriff who had been convicted of bribery, alleging that he was a sufferer of a “weaponized” Justice Division below the Biden administration.
Trump introduced his pardon of Scott Jenkins, who was convicted in December of accepting greater than $70,000 in bribes in trade for appointing native businessmen as auxiliary deputy sheriffs within the workplace.
“Sheriff Scott Jenkins, his spouse Patricia, and their household have been dragged via HELL by a Corrupt and Weaponized Biden DOJ,” Trump mentioned in a Monday submit on Fact Social asserting the pardon.
Jenkins, who served because the sheriff of Culpeper County in Northern Virginia for greater than a decade till he lost his reelection bid in 2023, was convicted on one rely of conspiracy, 4 counts of sincere companies mail and wire fraud, and 7 counts of bribery regarding packages receiving public funds.
Prosecutors alleged that Jenkins accepted money bribes and bribes within the type of marketing campaign contributions from numerous people, together with two who have been undercover FBI brokers. He provided them badges and credentials regardless of not being educated or vetted and never providing any companies to the sheriff’s workplace, they argued.
Jenkins was additionally accused of pressuring native officers to revive one of many people’ proper to personal a firearm regardless of their standing as a convicted felon.
Three of the boys, together with the beforehand convicted felon, already pleaded responsible for his or her roles within the bribery scheme earlier than Jenkins was discovered responsible.
Jenkins was sentenced to 10 years in jail in March.
“Scott Jenkins violated his oath of workplace and the religion the residents of Culpeper County positioned in him when he engaged in a cash-for-badges scheme,” performing United States Lawyer Zachary T. Lee mentioned in a launch after the sentencing. “We maintain our elected legislation enforcement officers to a better normal of conduct and this case proves that when these officers use their authority for unjust private enrichment, the Division of Justice will maintain them accountable.”
However Trump argued that Jenkins was handled unfairly, alleging that the choose within the case, whom former President Biden appointed, refused to simply accept proof that Jenkins provided to exonerate himself.
“This Sheriff is a sufferer of an overzealous Biden Division of Justice, and doesn’t should spend a single day in jail,” he mentioned. “He is an excellent particular person, who was persecuted by the Radical Left ‘monsters,’ and ‘left for useless.’”
Trump’s pardon additionally got here after a personal plea for clemency from Jenkins, who reportedly mentioned final month throughout a webinar that he didn’t have the cash to enchantment the decision and believed Trump would assist if he knew the info of the case and his aspect that he wasn’t capable of share in entrance of the jury.
Trump has frequently argued with out proof that he and different conservatives have been the goal of a politicized Justice Division through the Biden administration.
He has issued a variety of pardons for controversial figures since returning to workplace, together with most of these convicted of crimes associated to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot and Michele Fiore, a conservative commentator and former Las Vegas Metropolis Council member who was convicted on wire fraud.
The Justice Division below Trump has also launched investigations into a number of public officers, resulting in accusations from Democrats that the president is focusing on political opponents.