President Donald Trump has issued a full and unconditional pardon for Scott Jenkins, a former Virginia sheriff convicted in 2024 of federal bribery charges. The pardon, announced Monday, spares Jenkins from serving a 10-year prison sentence handed down in March.
Jenkins was found guilty by a jury for accepting over $75,000 in bribes in exchange for swearing in unqualified individuals as auxiliary deputy sheriffs. According to court documents, these individuals provided campaign contributions to Jenkins and received law enforcement badges and credentials despite lacking proper training or vetting. The Department of Justice said the appointees performed no legitimate services for the sheriff’s office.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump described Jenkins as a “victim of an overzealous Biden Department of Justice,” adding that Jenkins and his family had been “dragged through hell.” Trump emphasized that the sheriff “will not be going to jail tomorrow,” but would instead “have a wonderful and productive life.”
Since his conviction, Jenkins had publicly appealed to Trump for clemency. During an April webinar hosted by the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association, Jenkins expressed confidence in Trump’s support, stating, “I believe if he heard the information, I know he would help.”
This latest pardon adds to a growing list issued by Trump since the start of 2025, including his controversial January pardon of individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol riot and a February pardon of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, who was convicted for attempting to sell Barack Obama’s vacated Senate seat.
The Justice Department has not yet issued a response to Trump’s decision to pardon Jenkins. The case continues to spark debate over presidential pardon powers and their use in politically charged cases.