President Trump: Stand Against Reverse DEI Injustice—It's Time to Pardon VA Sheriff Scott Jenkins

An Open Letter to President Trump

Written by: Sam Orlando, Editor, Breaking Through News

CULPEPER, VIRGINIA — Now that you're back in the White House, President Trump, and using your constitutional pardon power to correct political injustices, there’s one case you need to look at urgently: that of former Culpeper County (Virginia) Sheriff Scott Jenkins.

Jenkins, a decorated law enforcement officer and a loyal supporter of your campaign, is currently scheduled to begin serving a 10-year federal prison sentence he recently received. His crime? According to prosecutors, he appointed donors to unpaid auxiliary deputy roles in exchange for financial support. A serious lapse in judgment, to be sure—but the penalty handed down is nothing short of draconian, especially when compared to how other sheriffs in Virginia have behaved—and been treated by the Justice Department.

Sheriff Jenkins’ indictment came during your reelection campaign - at a time when being a Trump ally seemed, in itself, like a liability under a hostile Justice Department. Meanwhile, Augusta County Sheriff Donald Smith—another Virginia sheriff who has operated a strikingly similar auxiliary deputy program, rife with allegations of favoritism and unqualified appointments—has not faced a single federal charge.

Smith’s conduct includes reportedly appointing romantic partners to special positions and being investigated by a federal grand jury for allegedly lying under oath in connection with his partner Felix Chujoy’s federal trial. The charges in that case included human trafficking, witness tampering, obstruction, and immigration violations. The evidence was serious—but the DOJ passed on prosecution, allegedly because they didn’t want to "out" a gay sheriff. Smith remains in office today, while Jenkins sits in a federal prison.

The contrast is undeniable. It appears Jenkins was punished not just for what he did—but for who he supported. All while the Biden Justice Department protected a far more compromised sheriff, for fear of offending progressive political constituencies.

This isn’t just a double standard—it looks like a textbook case of reverse DEI. In a system increasingly driven by the appearance of “equity,” Jenkins may have been sacrificed to demonstrate that no one is above the law—especially those aligned with your movement. But justice isn’t equity if it comes at the cost of fairness.

Justice must be blind. And it certainly should not depend on political affiliation. Yet that’s exactly what seems to have happened here.

We are not arguing that Jenkins’ actions were blameless. But he has already paid a heavy price—his badge, his career, his reputation, and now his liberty. A 10-year prison term is excessive, politically tainted, and out of step with how similar cases have been handled.

Mr. President, you’ve made it clear that your second term is about restoring fairness, upholding law and order, and holding government accountable. Commuting Sheriff Jenkins’ sentence—or granting him a full pardon—would not be a favor. It would be a correction. It would reaffirm that justice applies equally to everyone, regardless of who they support or how they vote.

After all, if other Sheriffs, who were not part of your campaign, can remain in uniform—despite serious federal scrutiny and credible allegations of favoritism and perjury—then surely Scott Jenkins, who has already paid a steep price, deserves a second chance as a free man.

We respectfully urge your office to review this case and consider extending clemency to a loyal public servant who deserves equal justice.