John Oliver Rips Trump’s Pardon of Joe Arpaio: ‘A Slap in the Face’ (Video)

“Last Week Tonight” is sometimes a little late to the news cycle, but John Oliver’s deep dives still contain some of the best commentary TV has to offer.

On Sunday, the HBO program dedicated 14 minutes to destroying Donald Trump’s presidential pardon of former Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio, who is no longer facing jail time for a contempt of court conviction.

As polarizing as Arpaio’s many tough — and to some, torturous — tactics used to punish his inmates were, it was the illegal targeting and detaining of Latinos that ultimately led to the criminal conviction of the Maricopa County.

But Arpaio’s off the hook now, simply because Trump believes the 24-year veteran was just “doing his job.”

“That is why this pardon is a slap in face to Latinos that Arpaio and his department unconstitutionally targeted, and… to the very rule of law itself,” Oliver said. “Arpaio broke the rules he was sworn to uphold — rules that are put in place to protect citizens from a government going out of control.”

“I do not doubt that Trump thinks that everything Joe Arpaio did was or should be part of a law enforcement officer’s job,” Oliver commented last night. “And that is the real problem here.”

“The Daily Show” alum then called Trump’s pardon a “loud confirmation” that, for the next few years at least, cops kind of have a free pass to do whatever they please.

Not a great precedent, Mr. President. Watch the video above.