Ex-Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio Talks Tough In Nashville

NASHVILLE, TN -- Former Arizona sheriff and pardon recipient Joe Arpaio spoke to a group of truck drivers during a Nashville conference Saturday, later speaking to Fox 17 on a range of topics.

The 85-year-old Arpaio is now running for Senate in the Grand Canyon State following an August 2017 presidential pardon after his conviction for contempt of court connected to his department's failure to comply with a court order related to a racial-profiling case.

"I never had a hero until three months ago, I finally realized in my whole life who my hero was and that was Donald Trump," Arpaio told Fox 17. "That has nothing to do with the pardon, that came out of nowhere, I didn't ask for it, nothing."

Arpaio, whose brother lives in the Nashville area, also spoke to the station on his support for the border wall with Mexico, a crack down on illegal immigration, deportation for Dreamers and arming teachers in an effort to prevent school shootings.

See the full report from Fox 17.

Photo by John Moore/Getty Images