President Donald Trump has granted a full pardon to Scott Jenkins, the former sheriff of Culpeper County, Virginia, who was convicted of accepting tens of thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange for handing out law enforcement credentials.
Jenkins, who had been sentenced to a decade in federal prison, was at the center of a corruption case where he accepted over $75,000 from individuals—including undercover FBI agents—in return for designating them as auxiliary deputy sheriffs. These appointments came without any training or legitimate responsibilities, raising serious concerns about abuse of power and public safety.
In defending the pardon, Trump claimed Jenkins was unfairly targeted by what he described as a politically motivated investigation. The former president argued that the punishment was excessive and that Jenkins deserved a second chance to contribute to society.
The move has reignited debate over Trump’s approach to executive clemency, which has included several controversial pardons since returning to office. Jenkins was scheduled to begin serving his sentence just one day after the pardon was announced, making the timing particularly notable.
While supporters see the pardon as a correction of perceived judicial overreach, critics argue it undermines accountability in law enforcement and sends the wrong message about public corruption. The Justice Department has yet to issue a formal response to the decision.