Trump Pardons Bribery-Convicted Sheriff: Justice Department Outraged

Trump Pardons Sheriff Convicted of Bribery West Virginia Sheriff Scott Jenkins received a full and unconditional pardon from former President Donald Trump just one day before he was scheduled to begin serving a 10-year prison sentence. Jenkins was convicted on charges of bribery and deputizing untrained individuals in exchange for monetary payments. The Department of Justice had previously issued a press release celebrating the conviction and sentencing. Trump's statement justifying the pardon claimed that Jenkins and his family had been "dragged through hell" by a "corrupt and weaponized Biden DOJ." He described the sheriff as a victim of an "overzealous Biden Department of Justice." The timing of the pardon and the stark contrast between Trump's statement and the DOJ's earlier reaction make this a highly controversial and newsworthy event. "This is why I, as President of the United States, see fit to end his unfair sentence," Trump's statement read. The pardon has sparked widespread debate and raised questions about the fairness of the justice system and the potential for political influence on pardons.