So Joe Arpaio was facing six months in jail.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

Given his age he likely would have received some kind of probation/community service. It's the symbolism of the pardon that rankles.

[HopeAgain]

1. Symbolism or outright racism?

[johnp3907]

6. Both.

The pardon was another wink to his fellow racists, and a green light for others in law enforcement to use racist techniques.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

7. If I was a judge and Arpaio showed remorse given his age I would have placed him on probation.

Mercy is part and parcel of justice and I would have shown him the mercy he so callously withheld from others.

[spanone]

2. arpaio is just like trump. he flaunts law and hates minorities.

trump feels a true empathy for joe...i'm sure

[ebbie15644]

3. Seriously if I were Arpaio I would decline

He will be admitting guilt and open him up to lawsuits for the rest of his life

[imanamerican63]

4. That why this pardon does not make any sense?

He could have been place on probation, due to is age and other factors. Trump wanted to give Arpaio a clean slate as if Arpaio never broke the law.

[oberliner]

5. Six months, actually

That was the maximum sentence he was facing potentially.

[PJMcK]

8. The symbolism is all that matters to Trump

Trump doesn't give a rat's ass about anyone but himself. He certainly doesn't care about Joe Arpaio. But he knows that his base cares and that if he pardoned Arpaio, the base will love Trump even more.

Further, Trump knew that it would infuriate everyone who disagrees with him. It's a typical Trump tactic to do the most assholish thing imaginable.