Former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio has privately floated the idea of leading the U.S. Marshals Service and joked he would be able to carry a "gun and badge" again if that happens, according to a new report.
The Atlantic reported Arpaio, who lost reelection to serve as sheriff last fall after serving in the position for 23 years, spoke with former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon last month and talked about his chances of landing a job in the Trump administration.
"Listen, I really don't want to go to Washington, but for the president I'll go to the moon," the news outlet reports Arpaio as telling Bannon.
Later in the conversation, he referenced running the U.S. Marshals.
"Can you imagine me being Marshal, and your main job is to lock up fugitives, including illegals?" he said. "Think of that. I would have a gun and badge" in case "the president wanted to put me on a special assignment."
Arpaio, 85, later told The Atlantic his law enforcement background is strong and would be an asset at the federal level.
"They're going to have a pretty big problem saying no when they look at my background," he said.
Arpaio was found guilty of criminal contempt of court in July over his department's use of racial profiling. Trump granted him a presidential pardon a month later.
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