“In his predictably unhinged rally in Arizona on Tuesday night, Donald Trump opted to go for the season-ending, ratings-boosting cliffhanger when he declined to pardon former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio for his federal criminal contempt of court conviction. Demonstrating his natural nose for high drama, Trump teased a future pardon, promising the roaring crowd that he would take care of former Sheriff Joe. ‘Was Sheriff Joe convicted for doing his job?’ President Trump asked as the crowd cheered. ‘I’ll make a prediction, I think he’s going to be just fine.’ He then added, ‘I won’t do it tonight because I don’t want to cause any controversy.’ (According to a CNN report on Wednesday, the White House has already prepared the paperwork.) But the will-he-won’t-he arc hardly quells the staggering reality that with or without a presidential pardon, Trump has cast Arpaio as an unfortunate victim of judicial overreach. Just like Donald Trump.”