Joe Arpaio
Arpaio has announced he is running for the Senate seat in Arizona currently occupied by Sen. Jeff Flake, who is retiring from Congress at the end of his term. Getty Images/ Spencer Platt

President Donald Trump announced Friday via Twitter granting full pardon to Joe Arpaio, former sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona, after he was convicted of criminal misconduct over handling undocumented immigrants.

Trump had hinted the same at his "Make America Great Again" rally in Phoenix, Arizona earlier this week, the Hill reported.

Arpaio was facing six months in prison, starting Oct. 5, after he was convicted in July for violating a federal court order prohibiting racial profiling of Latinos.

Officially announcing Arpaio's pardon, the White House said he was a "worthy candidate for a Presidential pardon." "Throughout his time as sheriff, Arpaio continued his life's work of protecting the public from the scourges of crime and illegal immigration. Sheriff Joe Arpaio is now 85 years old, and after more than 50 years of admirable service to our nation, he is (a) worthy candidate for a Presidential pardon," a White House statement read.

Arpaio took to Twitter to thank the president for the pardon, terming his conviction a “political witch hunt” by the administration of former President Barack Obama.

However, many on both sides of the political aisle condemned the president’s decision. Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton said Trump’s pardon of Arpaio was nothing less than a “slap in the face.”

“Pardoning Joe Arpaio is a slap in the face to the people of Maricopa County, especially the Latino community and those he victimized as he systematically and illegally violated their civil rights,” Stanton said in a statement. “Arpaio target and terrorized Latino families because of the color of their skin.”

“He was ordered by a federal judge to stop and he refused,” Stanton added. “He received a fair trial and a justifiable conviction, and there’s nothing the President can do to change the awful legacy and the stains he left on our community. Donald Trump can ignore the rule of law, but it was our voters who removed Joe Arpaio from power.”

Sen. John McCain (R-Az) released a statement condemning Trump’s decision, saying the president chose to undermine the rule of law by granting the pardon.

“No one is above the law and the individuals entrusted with the privilege of being sworn law officers should always seek to be beyond reproach in their commitment to fairly enforcing the laws they swore to uphold,” McCain said. “No one is above the law and the individuals entrusted with the privilege of being sworn law officers should always seek to be beyond reproach in their commitment to fairly enforcing the laws they swore to uphold.”

Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vt) said Trump was misusing his power to pardon. “By pardoning Sheriff Arpaio, Trump has again made clear he will use the powers of the presidency to defend racism and discrimination,” he tweeted.

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People said the pardon was an "explicit embrace of racist policing practices."

“Pardon of Arpaio is explicit embrace of the racist policing practices that leave communities fearful of very ppl who should protect & serve,” the organization tweeted.

Many other congressmen and senators also tweeted their disapproval of Trump's decision.

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