Trump Pardons Virginia Sheriff Convicted of Bribery

President Donald Trump granted an unconditional pardon to Scott Jenkins, the former Culpeper County Sheriff convicted on multiple federal charges including bribery, conspiracy, and honest services fraud, and sentenced to 10 years in prison. Jenkins was accused of accepting $75,000 in bribes in exchange for making businessmen and others auxiliary deputy sheriffs without proper vetting or training, allegedly to restore gun rights and provide other favors. Trump criticized the Biden Department of Justice and the federal judge overseeing the case, alleging bias and refusal to admit exculpatory evidence during the trial, describing Jenkins as a victim of political persecution. The pardon has sparked strong criticism from political figures such as Virginia Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell and Democratic gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger, who condemned the decision as an affront to the rule of law and public trust. Meanwhile, notable silence has come from Virginia's Republican leadership, including Governor Glenn Youngkin, Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, and Attorney General Jason Miyares. Jenkins had appealed his conviction and maintained that the payments were campaign contributions unrelated to the badges he issued.