Donald Trump has granted a full pardon to former Virginia sheriff Scott Jenkins, who was set to begin a 10-year prison sentence Tuesday after being convicted in a $75,000 bribery scheme.
Scott Howard Jenkins, 53, was the sheriff of Culpeper County, Virginia, and was convicted in 2023 of conspiracy, honest services fraud, and multiple counts of bribery involving programs receiving federal funds, according to Fox News.
Prosecutors alleged Jenkins accepted tens of thousands of dollars in bribes, both cash and campaign contributions, from businessmen in exchange for appointing them as auxiliary deputy sheriffs and issuing them law enforcement badges and credentials.
Trump announced the pardon in a May 27 Truth Social post, calling Jenkins a victim of a "weaponized" Justice Department under President Joe Biden. He criticized U.S. District Judge Robert Ballou, who oversaw the trial, and accused him of barring exculpatory evidence and showing political bias.
Jenkins, who had been sentenced in March 2024, previously claimed in a public webinar that key information was kept from the jury and expressed hope that Trump would hear his side of the story. Trump's decision to pardon Jenkins drew swift condemnation from legal observers, who noted that the sheriff's crimes involved the abuse of public trust and law enforcement authority.
Federal prosecutors had presented evidence that Jenkins accepted bribes from at least five individuals, including two undercover FBI agents. In return, he issued official badges and privileges to individuals who had no legitimate law enforcement duties.
Trump has not indicated whether additional pardons tied to corruption or controversial prosecutions are forthcoming.
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