President Donald Trump spared former Sheriff Joe Arpaio a possible jail sentence on Friday by pardoning the recent federal conviction stemming from his immigration patrols.
While multiple different Democrats decided to weigh in, no response was as bizarre and confusing as that of former first daughter Chelsea Clinton.
Chelsea took to Twitter Saturday, tweeting:
The year I spent in Joe Arpaio’s tent jail was hell. He should never walk free. https://t.co/KT09Monasj
— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) August 26, 2017
And immediately Twitter users shared their confusion. Did Chelsea spend time in Arpaio’s jail.
https://twitter.com/JesseKellyDC/status/901516073928884225
Obviously there would have been more headlines should that of been true, and Chelsea was actually referring to an op-ed written in the Washington Post by an actual inmate in Arpaio’s jail.
But her communications skills fell flat on this one.
One Twitter user offered a useful, and presumably obvious solution, which warranted a response from Chelsea.
I shared directly from @washingtonpost site. Not sure why it being an op-ed wasn't clear. Thank you for pointing out.
— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) August 26, 2017
The White House said the 85-year-old ex-sheriff was a “worthy candidate” for a presidential pardon. It was Trump’s first pardon as president.
“I am pleased to inform you that I have just granted a full Pardon to 85 year old American patriot Sheriff Joe Arpaio. He kept Arizona safe!” Trump tweeted Friday.
The announcement came three days after a rally in Phoenix at which the president signaled his willingness to absolve Arpaio’s misdemeanor contempt-of-court conviction.
Arpaio was in a celebratory mood after the pardon, eating dinner at an Italian restaurant as someone in his party ordered champagne. He told The Associated Press he was thankful for the pardon.
“I appreciate what the president did,” he said. “I have to put it out there: Pardon, no pardon — I’ll be with him as long as he’s president.”
The Associated Press contributed to this article.