President Donald Trump on Monday granted an unconditional pardon to a Virginia sheriff who had been convicted of federal bribery charges and sentenced to 10 years in federal prison.
Scott Jenkins, who had been the sheriff of Culpeper County, Virginia, was set to report to jail on Tuesday.
“Sheriff Scott Jenkins, his wife Patricia, and their family have been dragged through HELL by a Corrupt and Weaponized Biden DOJ,” Trump wrote in a statement on Truth Social.
“This Sheriff is a victim of an overzealous Biden Department of Justice, and doesn’t deserve to spend a single day in jail.”
This is why I, as President of the United States, see fit to end his unfair sentence, and grant Sheriff Jenkins a FULL and Unconditional Pardon.
A Virginia sheriff who was found guilty of federal bribery charges and given a 10-year sentence in federal prison was unconditionally pardoned by President Donald Trump on Monday.
Scott Jenkins was scheduled to report to jail on Tuesday after serving as the sheriff of Culpeper County, Virginia.
Trump posted a statement on Truth Social saying, “A Corrupt and Weaponized Biden DOJ has dragged Sheriff Scott Jenkins, his wife Patricia, and their family through HELL.”. In actuality, Biden Judge Robert Ballou shut Sheriff Jenkins down during his trial when he attempted to present exonerating evidence to defend himself, then launched into a tirade. “,”.
“As we have seen, in Federal, City, and State Courts, Radical Left or Liberal Judges have allowed into evidence what they feel like, rather than what is required by the Constitution and Rules of Evidence,” he continued. “This sheriff is a victim of the overzealous Biden Department of Justice and is not deserving of a day in jail. “.
Despite facing a jury trial in late 2024, Jenkins was not sentenced during the Trump administration until March 2025. Behaving as if U. S. . lawyer Zachary T. Lee, the U.S. A. In this instance, the Trump administration is still acting as the U.S. government. S. legal representative for Virginia’s Western District.
Jenkins was hailed by Trump as “a wonderful person, who was persecuted by the Radical Left’monsters,’ and ‘left for dead!'”. This is the reason I, as President of the United States, feel compelled to revoke his unjust punishment and offer Sheriff Jenkins a complete and unconditional pardon. He will have an amazing and fruitful life instead of being sent to prison tomorrow. “,”.
In December 2024, a jury found Jenkins guilty of seven counts of bribery involving federally funded programs, four counts of honest services fraud, and one count of conspiracy.
The public’s trust was repeatedly betrayed by Jenkins “by exploiting his official powers for personal gain,” according to a March sentencing memo. “.”.
“He attempted to manipulate the legal system and avoid accountability for his crimes by lying to the Court and the jury after he was caught,” Lee continued.
He stated, “In summary, Jenkins’ deceptions and misuses of authority in the current case are not an anomaly.”. Jenkins has shown a startling lack of regard for his moral and legal obligations ever since he began working as a police officer. “,”.
In a March press release, the Department of Justice stated that he had been paid more than $75,000 in cash for “designating a large number of Northern Virginia businessmen as auxiliary deputy sheriffs within his department.”. “,”.
“When Scott Jenkins engaged in a cash-for-badges scheme, he violated both his oath of office and the trust that the people of Culpeper County placed in him,” Lee stated at the time.
He continued, “This case demonstrates that the Department of Justice will hold those officials accountable when they misuse their power for unjust personal enrichment. We hold our elected law enforcement officials to a higher standard of conduct.”.
