Who Is Scott Jenkins? Donald Trump Offers Former Virginia Sheriff a Lifeline

[ad_1] President Donald Trump pardoned Scott Jenkins, a former Virginia sheriff, who was lately sentenced to 10 years in jail after being convicted on costs of conspiracy, fraud and bribery.

The president introduced the "FULL and unconditional pardon" of Jenkins on Fact Social on Monday afternoon.

Newsweek reached out to protection legal professional Philip Andonian, who represented Jenkins at trial, for remark by way of e mail on Monday afternoon.

Why It Issues Jenkins served as Culpeper County sheriff from 2012 to 2023 after dropping his reelection bid. He was convicted in December 2024 on one rely of conspiracy, 4 counts of sincere providers fraud and 7 counts of bribery regarding applications receiving federal funds.

Jenkins was accused of accepting over $75,000 in bribes in alternate for appointing a number of Northern Virginia businessmen as auxiliary deputy sheriffs inside his division. He was sentenced to 10 years in jail in March.

Trump wrote on Fact Social that Jenkins was a "sufferer" of an "overzealous" Division of Justice beneath the steering of former President Joe Biden.

"Sheriff Scott Jenkins, his spouse Patricia, and their household have been dragged via HELL by a Corrupt and Weaponized Biden DOJ," the president wrote.

Culpeper County Sheriff Scott Jenkins is seen in Culpeper, Virginia, on January 16, 2020. Culpeper County Sheriff Scott Jenkins is seen in Culpeper, Virginia, on January 16, 2020. Photograph by EVA HAMBACH/AFP by way of Getty Photographs What To Know In line with the US' Lawyer's Workplace of the Western District of Virginia, proof proven throughout trial and court docket filings confirmed Jenkins accepted money bribes and marketing campaign contributions from co-defendants Rick Rahim, Fredric Gumbinner and James Metcalf, in addition to 5 others, together with two undercover FBI brokers.

"Scott Jenkins violated his oath of workplace and the religion the residents of Culpeper County positioned in him when he engaged in a cash-for-badges scheme," Appearing U.S. Lawyer Zachary T. Lee mentioned in an announcement following Jenkins' sentencing.

In return for the bribes, the US' Lawyer's Workplace of the Western District of Virginia mentioned that Jenkins made the people auxiliary deputy sheriffs and issued them Culpeper County Sheriff's Workplace badges and credentials, including that the people weren't skilled and "didn't render any professional providers to the Sheriff's Workplace or the residents of Culpeper County."

In the meantime, Jenkins mentioned he was in search of assist from Trump after having no cash to attraction his conviction on a webinar hosted by the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Affiliation, NBC Washington reported in April.

"I actually consider if I might get an hour of time with somebody within the administration and lay out some details with my legal professional and I actually consider if they might hear the opposite aspect which I could not get in entrance of the jury – I consider complete heartedly within the president," he mentioned. "I consider if he heard the data, I do know he would assist if he knew my story."

What Individuals Are Saying President Donald Trump wrote in his Fact Social publish on Monday: "Sheriff Scott Jenkins, his spouse Patricia, and their household have been dragged via HELL by a Corrupt and Weaponized Biden DOJ. In actual fact, throughout his trial, when Sheriff Jenkins tried to supply exculpatory proof to assist himself, the Biden Decide, Robert Ballou, refused to permit it, shut him down, after which went on a tirade. As we've seen, in Federal, Metropolis, and State Courts, Radical Left or Liberal Judges permit into proof what they really feel like, not what is remitted beneath the Structure and Guidelines of Proof. This Sheriff is a sufferer of an overzealous Biden Division of Justice, and would not should spend a single day in jail. He is a superb individual, who was persecuted by the Radical Left 'monsters,' and 'left for useless.' Because of this I, as President of the US, see match to finish his unfair sentence, and grant Sheriff Jenkins a FULL and Unconditional Pardon..."

Appearing United States Lawyer Zachary T. Lee in a March assertion following Jenkins' sentencing: "We maintain our elected regulation enforcement officers to a better customary of conduct and this case proves that when these officers use their authority for unjust private enrichment, the Division of Justice will maintain them accountable."