Trump pardons former Virginia sheriff convicted of bribery under 'Weaponized Biden DOJ'

President Trump has pardoned a former Virginia sheriff convicted of bribery under the "Weaponized Biden DOJ."

Trump announced the pardon of former Culpeper County, Va., Sheriff Scott Jenkins on Monday, a day before he was to report to jail.

"Sheriff Scott Jenkins, his wife Patricia, and their family have been dragged through HELL by a Corrupt and Weaponized Biden DOJ," Trump posted on Truth Social. 

"In fact, during his trial, when Sheriff Jenkins tried to offer exculpatory evidence to support himself, the Biden Judge, Robert Ballou, refused to allow it, shut him down, and then went on a tirade. As we have seen, in Federal, City, and State Courts, Radical Left or Liberal Judges allow into evidence what they feel like, not what is mandated under the Constitution and Rules of Evidence.

"This Sheriff is a victim of an overzealous Biden Department of Justice, and doesn’t deserve to spend a single day in jail. He is a wonderful person, who was persecuted by the Radical Left 'monsters,' and 'left for dead.' 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. He will NOT be going to jail tomorrow, but instead will have a wonderful and productive life."

Jenkins was convicted last year of taking more than $75,000 in bribes in exchange for appointing businessmen as auxiliary deputy sheriffs within his department, Fox News reported. In March, he received a 10-year prison sentence for his convictions of one count of conspiracy, four counts of honest services fraud, and seven counts of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds.

Justice Department prosecutors alleged that Jenkins' three co-defendants and five other people, including two undercover FBI agents, gave him bribes in the form of cash and campaign contributions.

In exchange, prosecutors said, Jenkins appointed them as auxiliary deputy sheriffs, a sworn law-enforcement position, and issued them official Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office badges and credentials, without any training, vetting, or rendering any legitimate services to the sheriff’s office.

Jenkins said in April, during a webinar hosted by the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association, that he hoped Trump would intervene.

"I truly believe if I could get an hour of time with someone in the administration and lay out some facts with my attorney and I really believe if they could hear the other side which I couldn’t get in front of the jury — I believe wholeheartedly in the president," Jenkins said. "I believe if he heard the information, I know he would help if he knew my story."