Former Phoenix-area Sheriff Joe Arpaio has lost a bid to erase his criminal conviction for disobeying a 2011 court order.
An appeals court says President Donald Trump's pardon makes it unnecessary. Arpaio argued the misdemeanor contempt of court conviction should be removed so it can't be raised against him in future court cases. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday said the verdict no longer has any legal consequence because he has been pardoned. Arpaio's defiance of the court order is believed to have contributed to his 2016 election loss. He is running for sheriff again this year.
