President Donald Trump has pardoned Scott Howard Jenkins, a former sheriff of Culpeper County, Virginia, who was convicted of accepting bribes in exchange for granting auxiliary deputy sheriffs positions. The former sheriff, who received a 10-year prison sentence, has now been granted a full and unconditional presidential pardon. Trump’s announcement, made on his Truth Social platform, included a strong critique of the Biden administration’s handling of the case, asserting that the Justice Department has been ‘weaponized’ and that the trial was unfairly biased against Jenkins.
Jenkins, who was convicted of multiple charges including conspiracy, honest services fraud, and bribery, was found guilty after a trial that prosecutors claimed demonstrated the severity of his misconduct. Trump, in his post, accused the Biden administration of ‘dragging Jenkins through HELL’ and criticized the judicial process as being influenced by ‘Radical Left’ judges. He emphasized that Jenkins is a ‘wonderful person’ who was ‘persecuted by the Radical Left monsters,’ and that his pardon is a necessary step to correct the perceived injustice.
According to federal prosecutors, Jenkins accepted cash bribes and campaign contributions from several individuals as part of a scheme to appoint them as auxiliary deputies, a position that carries legal authority and badge credentials. None of the appointees were trained or vetted, and they did not provide legitimate services to the sheriff’s department. Jenkins’ defense had argued that he had sought to present exculpatory evidence to the court, but the judge ruled against allowing such evidence into the trial. This ruling, according to Trump, exemplified the unfairness of the judicial process under the current administration.
Jenkins himself had previously expressed hope for Trump’s intervention, stating that he believed the president would take action if he were made aware of the full details of his case. During a webinar hosted by the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association, Jenkins emphasized his belief in Trump’s potential to provide justice, despite the existing legal proceedings against him. The pardon marks a significant development in the case, which has drawn attention not only for the legal implications but also for the broader political context of Trump’s relationship with the justice system under the Biden administration.