Recommendations of the Editorial team
Donald Trump announced on Monday that he pardoned a Maga sheriff. Shortly before he should compete with a ten -year prison for bribes at the federal level.
Serious allegations against Scott Jenkins
The former sheriff of Culpeper County, Virginia, Scott Jenkinsbecame found for guiltyCivilian police stamps in exchange for thousands of dollars and thus more than $ 75,000 of bribes to have accumulated.
Appointment to auxiliary threads with far -reaching consequences
According to the public prosecutor, he appointed non -checked business owners from the area to Washington DC for unpaid auxiliary threads. Which gave these police powers. The business owners wanted to avoid traffic sentences. And can wear hidden firearms without permission.
Jenkins was convicted in March after a jury found him guilty in all charges in December. He was charged in 2023 for conspiracy, telecommunications fraud and bribery.
“Sheriff Scott Jenkins, his wife Patricia and her family were dragged through hell by a corrupt and instrumentalized Ministry of Justice under bidges”, wrote Trump on Truth Social.
Complete and unconditional pardon
“This sheriff is a victim of an overzealous Ministry of Justice among bidges. He does not deserve to spend a single day in prison. He is a wonderful person who has been persecuted by the ‘monsters’ of the radical left and ‘left to death’. For this reason, as President of the United States, I think it is appropriate to remove his unjust punishment. To grant full and unconditional pardon.
Jenkins’ personal explanation to support Trump
The public prosecutor said Jenkins put part of the bribes into his campaign fund. Keep the rest for themselves. He denied any misconduct. “I believe in the president with all of my heart,” said Jenkins in April during a webinar of constitutional sheriffs and peace officers association. “I think if he heard the information, he would help me if he knew my story,” he added.
During the trial, Rick Rahim, an entrepreneur from Fairfax County, said that he had been banned from possession of a firearm. In exchange for $ 25,000 in cash and a loan of $ 17,500 for the construction of a house, Jenkins appointed him to be auxiliary forces so that he could have a weapon.
Two hidden FBI agents stated that they had been appointed auxiliary hershers and then gave Jenkins $ 5,000 and $ 10,000 in cash.
Statement by the public prosecutor
“Scott Jenkins misused his notice of office and the trust of the citizens of Culpeper County when he took part in a money-for-bad business”, said The incumbent US prosecutor Zachary T. Lee at the pronouncement of Jenkins. “We put higher behavioral standards to our chosen law enforcement officers. And this case proves that the Ministry of Justice is responsible for these civil servants if they abuse their authority for unjustified personal enrichment. I am grateful to the FBI for its tireless work in these investigations.”
In 2019, Jenkins said that he was appointed residents of the district as auxiliary theral should the legislator issued stricter weapons laws. “I plan to carefully check and appoint thousands of our law -loving citizens to take care of their constitutional right to own weapons,” wrote he on Facebook.
Further pardonation by Trump
Trump has pardoned more followers. Including about 1,500 accused who attacked the Capitol on the attack on the January 6th were involved.
“No Maga is left behind”, posted Ed Martin, pardon lawyer in the Ministry of Justice and former interim US lawyer for DC, to X. He added: “Thank you, @potus Trump. For the pardon of Sheriff Jenkins!”