• Trump pardoned former Virginia sheriff Scott Jenkins, convicted of bribery.
• Jenkins faced a 10-year sentence before being pardoned.
• The former sheriff claimed he was a victim of a biased Justice Department.
• He allegedly accepted over $75,000 in bribes from local businessmen.
• This pardon follows a series of similar clemency actions by Trump for loyal supporters.

President Donald Trump announced a full and unconditional pardon on Monday for former Culpeper County Sheriff Scott Jenkins, who was convicted of federal bribery charges. Jenkins had been sentenced to 10 years in prison in March 2025, and was to report to jail shortly. Trump characterized Jenkins as a victim of a "weaponized" Justice Department under former President Biden, declaring, "Sheriff Scott Jenkins... has been dragged through HELL" by government actions against him, according to The Hill, ABC News, and HuffPost.

Jenkins was convicted in December 2024, found guilty on multiple counts including conspiracy and fraud for accepting more than $75,000 in bribes from several businessmen, including two undercover FBI agents. In exchange for these payments, Jenkins allegedly appointed them as auxiliary deputy sheriffs without proper training or vetting, which caused significant public safety concerns, as noted by prosecutors and investigators, according to Newsweek, Reuters, and BBC.

During his trial, Jenkins attempted to provide evidence for his defense, which he argued would exonerate him; however, Judge Robert Ballou, appointed by Biden, reportedly refused to accept this evidence. Trump remarked that this unfair treatment contributed to Jenkins's predicament, stating that the judge "went on a tirade" against him, highlighting Jenkins's claims of political persecution by the judicial system, according to Los Angeles Times, India Times, and CBS News.

This pardon fits into a broader pattern of Trump granting clemency to individuals he perceives as politically victimized by the government. Jenkins joins others, including those linked to the January 6 Capitol riot, in receiving such favorable treatment. Trump's administration has been marked by a willingness to intervene in cases seen as politically motivated, as he frequently discusses similar sentiments regarding his own legal challenges, according to AA, The Hill, and Reuters.