Former sheriff Joe Arpaio to speak in Las Vegas
Controversial lawman Joe Arpaio will give the keynote address at a conservative gathering in Las Vegas.
Arpaio, the former longtime sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona, will speak at the Conservative Leadership Conference on Sept. 16.
The 85-year-old lawman rose to fame well before President Donald Trump pardoned Arpaio, sparing him potential jail time for his conviction of criminal contempt of court for ignoring a court order in a racial profiling case.
Chuck Muth, the event’s host and president of Citizen Outreach, announced Arpaio’s appearance in a note to supporters on Thursday. The conservative group will give Arpaio its “Courage Under Fire Award” at a dinner where the former sheriff will speak.
“Never known to sugar-coat it or dance around the bush, I expect we’re gonna get another fun-filled barn-burner of a speech from Sheriff Joe,” Muth said in his email.
Arpaio, who worked for the Clark County Sheriff’s Office in 1957, gained a national stage for his efforts targeting undocumented immigrants, putting inmates in so-called “tent cities,” and giving inmates pink underwear. Arpaio’s supporters viewed him as a tough-on-crime sheriff, but Trump’s pardon was widely criticized.
The pardon was the first of Trump’s presidency.
Arpaio has twice spoken at Conservative Leadership Conference events, including in 2011, when he autographed pink inmate boxers.
Contact Ben Botkin at bbotkin@reviewjournal.com or 775-461-0661. Follow @BenBotkin1 on Twitter.
