Despite news last week of billboards and tweets urging former Sheriff Joe Arpaio to run again for Maricopa County Sheriff, Arpaio himself came very close to throwing his support behind his former Chief Deputy Jerry Sheridan at a Fountain Hills Republican Club meeting on Saturday, July 20.

Asked by an audience member if he would run for sheriff again Arpaio, never one to close a door behind him, said he has not made any plans, but he called attention to the fact that Sheridan, who was also present at the meeting, is a candidate and has great experience working with MCSO. Sheridan was with MCSO for about 40 years before leaving when Arpaio was defeated in 2016. He announced earlier this year that he will be a candidate for sheriff.

Arpaio said he does not endorse anyone for public office unless they ask him, and recognizing that his endorsement may be toxic, encourages anyone asking to be absolutely certain they want his support.

Since his time out of office Arpaio has done numerous speaking engagements around the country at GOP fundraisers and managing lawsuits. He said he would be in Washington, D.C. this week regarding a libel suit he has against several media outlets for calling him a convicted felon.

“I’m not a convicted felon,” Arpaio said.

He was found guilty of defying a court order by a federal judge and accepted a pardon for the offense by President Donald Trump.

Arpaio said he is also involved in the operation of several family businesses.

“I’m not going fishing,” he said.

A staunch supporter of the president, Arpaio was asked if he would accept a role in the next Trump administration. Arpaio said he would go now if asked, but added he is confident of a second term for President Trump.

Arpaio said he is also speaking at fundraisers for police officers’ defense.

“Political officials are throwing their cops under the bus even before an investigation is done,” he said. “There is a war on cops.”

Arpaio said he is also trying to get someone in the media to even look at his report on the birth certificate of former President Barak Obama. Arpaio alleges that Obama was not a natural born citizen, and therefore ineligible to be president.

“This is the biggest cover-up in history and no one wants to read my report,” he said. “There is no doubt [Obama’s] birth certificate is a fake.”

Arpaio also had kudos for his wife, Ava, who was present. He credited her with standing by him over his long law enforcement career with the DEA and as Maricopa County Sheriff. He even credits her with saving his life on a couple of occasions. He also said when he was working undercover in Chicago he would give his home phone number to drug dealers and Ava would answer the phone when they called, never giving him away.