Fresh Off A Pardon From Trump, Arpaio Floats A Primary Challenge To Flake

FILE - In this Jan. 9, 2013 file photo, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio speaks with the media in Phoenix. Arpaio begins a four-day hearing Tuesday, April 21, that could bring him fines, damage his credibility and... FILE - In this Jan. 9, 2013 file photo, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio speaks with the media in Phoenix. Arpaio begins a four-day hearing Tuesday, April 21, that could bring him fines, damage his credibility and make him politically vulnerable for his acknowledged violations of a judge's orders in a racial profiling case. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin,File) MORE LESS
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Just a few days after President Donald Trump issued a pardon for Joe Arpaio, the former Maricopa County sheriff hinted that he could mount a primary challenge to Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ), who’s up for re-election next year.

Arpaio, who was convicted of contempt of court for ignoring a court order to stop holding people solely on suspicion of being undocumented, told the Washington Examiner on Monday that he may run for office again.

“I could run for mayor, I could run for legislator, I could run for Senate,” he said.

“I’m sure getting a lot of people around the state asking me” to run against Flake, he added. “All I’m saying is the door is open and we’ll see what happens. I’ve got support. I know what support I have.”

It’s not clear how serious Arpaio is about challenging Flake. He lost his bid for a seventh term as sheriff of Maricopa County last year, and was later convicted of contempt of court. The sheriff was notorious for holding inmates in “tent city,” an open air jail he once referred to as a “concentration camp.”

Arpaio, who is now 85 years old, told the Washington Examiner that despite his age, he does not plan to fully retire yet.

“I’m proud to be my age. I work 14 hours a day. If anyone thinks my age is going to hold me back, I’ve got news for them,” he said. “The bottom line is there’s no way I’m going to go fishing. I have no hobbies.”

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Notable Replies

  1. “I’m proud to be my age. I work 14 hours a day.”


    :joy::joy::joy: Doing what? You’re unemployed.

  2. Ooh, I sense a new ad campaign for the state’s tourism board:

    “Arizona: Yes, we really ARE that racist!”

  3. Avatar for krux krux says:

    I thought I had something to say. But you can only say “puke” or “barf” so many times.

  4. This oh FFS moment has been brought to you by…

  5. FIFY…:grin:

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