Democratic lawmakers are requesting a hearing on President Donald Trump’s controversial decision to pardon former Sheriff Joe Arpaio. In a letter to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), the Democrats on the panel said they want to hold a hearing in part because the pardon “sends an unequivocal signal that institutionalized racial profiling as practiced by Sheriff Arpaio is acceptable.” Arpaio was convicted of criminal contempt earlier this year after he refused to comply with a court order. The White House announced the pardon on Friday as Hurricane Harvey was about to make landfall in Texas.
