Washington, August 28 (RHC)-- In the U.S., Democratic Congresswoman Maxine Waters has suggested that U.S. President Donald Trump is a white nationalist and a member of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) for pardoning a former sheriff in Arizona convicted of criminal contempt in a case involving racial profiling. 
 
Days after drawing criticism for refusing to publicly condemn white supremacist groups for attacking counter-protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia, Trump prompted a fresh wave of protests by pardoning Joseph Arpaio. 

A strong Trump ally, 85-year-old Arpaio was known for his crackdown on undocumented immigrants entering from neighboring Mexico.  The presidential pardon came less than a month after Arpaio was convicted of criminal contempt in a case involving racial profiling. 

Over the weekend, Congresswoman Waters tweeted: "I'm not surprised Trump pardoned racial profiler Arpaio.  White Nationalists, KKK, & Duke celebrated Trump's election b/c he is one of them!" 

"Trump disrespects minorities, lifts up white nationalists, demeans women & every day finds a way to undermine civil rights.  He is deplorable," she continued. 

Maxine Waters, who represents California’s 43rd congressional district, said the move was "an act of desperation" because Trump “knows the walls are closing in on him,” she wrote. 

Arpaio, who had dubbed himself as "America's Toughest Sheriff," lost a bid for re-election in November as sheriff of Arizona’s Maricopa County after 24 years in office.  Arpaio was convicted on July 31 by a U.S. federal judge, who ruled the sheriff had deliberately violated a 2011 court order barring his officers from stopping and detaining Hispanic drivers solely on suspicion that they were in the U.S. illegally. 

Meanwhile, Arizona Senator and Trump critic John McCain used the opportunity to blast the decision and note that Arpaio’s pardoning "undermines his claim for the respect of rule of law." 

McCain said: "The president has the authority to make this pardon, but doing so at this time undermines his claim for the respect of rule of law as Mr. Arpaio has shown no remorse for his actions.”