“Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely” is an axiom coined by Lord Acton, a British politician and writer. On Friday we witnessed its most recent example of the moral corruption of the sitting president. When Donald Trump decided to pardon former sheriff Joe Arpaio (a power he absolutely possesses), for violating the civil rights of individuals and repeatedly acting in contempt of court, he bastardized the awesome power of his office for political favoritism and vanquished the individual protections of the Constitution. 

The timing of his act was as cowardly as the act. Millions of Americans were facing a natural disaster sure to affect their lives for weeks and perhaps years to come. Apparently bolstered by his 34 percent approval rating, the president found the perfect time to announce this spineless act in hopes people would forget about it by Monday. 

Mr. Trump has long held obvious contempt for the judiciary, citizens of color and, as we now know, for the law and spirit of the Constitution. The lesson our children can learn from Mr. Trump’s pardon of Mr. Arpaio is that criminal behavior that carries the Trump stamp of approval is fine with him and he will exercise his power to pardon because he can. This is moral corruption in its purest form. 

The frightening thing is that we now know that our deepest fears are true; we know what he will do. We can predict that he will pardon those who broke the law in support of his candidacy, and perhaps he will pardon even himself. Witness the American imperial dynasty disguised as a democracy and Emperor Trump has ascended the throne.

BETH LEWIS
Edgewood

First Published: August 30, 2017, 4:00 a.m.