Trump Pardons Former Virginia Sheriff Convicted of Bribery

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump granted a full pardon to Scott Jenkins, a former sheriff from Virginia, who was convicted of bribery and fraud charges. Jenkins, a longtime supporter of Trump, was sentenced to 10 years in prison after a jury found him guilty in December for accepting over $75,000 in bribes.

Jenkins was convicted of multiple counts, including conspiracy and honest services fraud, after it was revealed he made several business people auxiliary deputy sheriffs in exchange for cash and campaign contributions. The individuals granted badges and law enforcement powers were not trained or vetted, according to prosecutors.

Trump announced the pardon on his social media platform, claiming Jenkins and his family had been unfairly targeted by the Department of Justice, which he described as “overzealous.” He called Jenkins a “wonderful person” and said he had endured persecution by “Radical Left monsters.”

Before the pardon, Jenkins was set to begin serving his prison sentence on Tuesday. The judge in his trial, Robert Ballou, was appointed by President Joe Biden, which Trump noted while expressing his disapproval of the legal proceedings against Jenkins.

“Sheriff Scott Jenkins has been dragged through HELL,” Trump wrote, expressing his belief that Jenkins tried to present evidence in his defense but was silenced in court.

Jenkins served as a sheriff in Culpeper County, Virginia, since 2012 after being elected in 2011. He was re-elected twice, most recently in 2019. Following his conviction, Jenkins appealed to Trump for assistance, hopeful that the president would hear his side of the story.

This pardon is part of a pattern, with Trump previously granting pardons to many of his allies. In January, he pardoned numerous individuals involved in the Capitol riots. The Constitution empowers presidents to issue pardons, effectively forgiving individuals for federal crimes.