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Politics

Trump-ally Joe Arpaio running for Senate

January 9, 2018

Donald Trump spared Arpaio jail in 2017 after he was found guilty of ignoring a court order in a racial profiling case. The now-candidate is known for his anti-immigration views and harsh law enforcement record.

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Joe Arpaio
Image: Reuters/N.Wiechec

Joe Arpaio, the former sheriff who US President Donald Trump pardoned in 2017 after he disobeyed a court order in a racial profiling case, said Tuesday he was running for the US Senate.

"I am running for the US Senate from the Great State of Arizona, for one unwavering reason: to support the agenda and policies of President Donald Trump in his mission to Make America Great Again," he said on Twitter.

Read more: Joe Arpaio pardoned by Donald Trump, Sebastian Gorka leaves White House

In a fundraising email to supporters sent immediately after the announcement, the 85-year-old said: "President Trump needs my help in the Senate."

Controversial cop

President Trump, who once called Arpaio "a great American patriot," spared the former sheriff a jail sentence after Arpaio was found guilty of ignoring a 2011 court order to stop traffic patrols targeting suspected illegal immigrants.

Arpaio endorsed Trump as the Republican candidate during the 2016 presidential election and appeared at a number of electoral rallies.

Multiple lawsuits totaling over $140 million (€117 million) overshadowed his 24-year record as sheriff of Maricopa County, which includes Arizona's state capital Phoenix.

During his tenure, he became widely known for imprisoning inmates in tents in stifling heat and forcing them to wear pink underwear. The sheriff department also pursued political enemies and failed to appropriately investigate over 400 sex-crimes complaints.

Arpaio's reign ended when a relatively unknown Phoenix police sergeant defeated Arpaio in the 2016 sheriff election, despite Arpaio raising over $12.6 million to his rival's $1 million.

Read more: Donald Trump slams media at Phoenix rally, thousands protest against him

Scaling the political ladder

The Senate seat became vacant after Republican Senator Jeff Flake, a strong critic of President Trump, said in November he would not seek re-election.

But Arpaio is not the only aspiring Republican contender for Flake's seat.

Read more: US President Donald Trump in war of words with Republican senators

Former Arizona State Senator Kelli Ward said at the end of 2017 she would enter the primary race. Martha McSally, a US representative for Arizona who has already suggested she would run, has scheduled "special announcement" events for Friday.

Democratic Party leader Tom Perez said Tuesday his party will fight "tooth and nail" to win the Arizona Senate seat, adding it was "sad and disturbing" that Arpaio had chosen to run.

amp/rt (AP, AFP)