President Donald Trump's pardon of former Maricopa County, Ariz. Sheriff Joe Arpaio will stand Tuesday after a brief challenge in court.
The challenge was declined by U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton, the same judge who had initially found Arpaio guilty of contempt of court, the Associated Press reports. Much of Bolton's 14 page ruling on Wednesday was focused on why she found Arpaio guilty in the first place.
Arpaio was pardoned in August by Trump for his federal conviction for ignoring a judge's order to halt a controversial program aimed at curbing illegal immigration. Arpaio was a strong supporter of Trump's 2016 campaign, and was known as the "toughest sheriff in America."
"I have concluded the pardon is valid," Bolton wrote.
Some opponents of Trump and Arpaio, including congressional Democrats and immigration advocacy groups, wanted the pardon dismissed. Some of those opposed to the pardon say it was an infringement on the court's powers, and that it would encourage other government officials to act against court orders in the future.