Trump grants pardon to Virginia sheriff found guilty of federal bribery charges

Trump Grants Pardon To Virginia Sheriff Found Guilty Of Federal Bribery Charges

Surprise twist alert: President Donald Trump just dropped a political bombshell—again.

This time, it’s all about Scott Jenkins, the ex-Culpeper County sheriff who was headed for a 10-year vacation at Club Fed after a federal bribery conviction. Not anymore.

Trump swooped in and handed Jenkins a full pardon on Monday, calling him the latest victim of a “corrupt and weaponized” Department of Justice.

Yup—he said that exact phrase on Truth Social. Because of course he did.

Jenkins was busted last year for accepting more than $75,000 in bribes. In return? He handed out shiny deputy sheriff badges like they were backstage passes to a Taylor Swift concert.

Federal prosecutors said the badges came with zero training and zero actual law enforcement duties. But hey, they sure looked good in a wallet.

According to the Department of Justice, Jenkins gave those badges to buddies who paid him off through shady donations and envelopes of cash. All part of a “pay-to-play” scheme worthy of its own Netflix docuseries.

The FBI even went full undercover on this one, catching Jenkins red-handed in a sting operation straight out of “The Wire.”

In December, a jury found Jenkins guilty on four counts, including conspiracy and honest services fraud. In March, Judge Robert Ballou threw the book at him—10 years in prison.

But Trump? He wasn’t having it.

He claims the judge blocked key evidence and that Jenkins was railroaded by political enemies. “Another good man destroyed,” Trump posted on his platform.

Fox 5 DC reports Jenkins had been a longtime law-and-order conservative voice in his county and once openly backed Trump’s policies. Now? He’s back in the headlines—and back home.

This isn’t Trump’s first clemency rodeo. In recent months, he’s pardoned January 6 defendants, allies in trouble, and now a sheriff with a felony record.

Love it or hate it, it’s classic Trump: unpredictable, headline-grabbing, and straight out of a political thriller.

No word yet on whether Jenkins will get his badge back—but hey, he’s probably not in a rush to flash that thing at the next barbecue.