'A middle finger to America': What people are saying about Trump's first presidential pardon

Sen. John McCain of Arizona: Trump "undermines his claim for the respect of rule of law" with the Arpaio pardon.

Sen. John McCain said in a statement on Friday:

"No one is above the law and the individuals entrusted with the privilege of being sworn law officers should always seek to be beyond reproach in their commitment to fairly enforcing the laws they swore to uphold. Mr. Arpaio was found guilty of criminal contempt for continuing to illegally profile Latinos living in Arizona based on their perceived immigration status in violation of a judge’s orders. The President has the authority to make this pardon, but doing so at this time undermines his claim for the respect of rule of law as Mr. Arpaio has shown no remorse for his actions."

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi: A "mockery of rule of law."

Trump's "" Pelosi said on Twitter.

A spokesman for House Speaker Paul Ryan said Ryan "does not agree with this decision."

Paul Ryan's spokesman, Doug Andres said in a statement:

"The Speaker does not agree with this decision. Law enforcement officials have a special responsibility to respect the rights of everyone in the United States. We should not allow anyone to believe that responsibility is diminished by this pardon."

Former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates: Trump just revealed "his own contempt for our Constitution."

Jeff Flake, the junior Arizona senator, said Trump should have let "the judicial process ... take its course."

Flake wrote on Twitter: ""

Jeff Flake's primary challenger Kelli Ward applauded Trump and called Arpaio's actions as sheriff "heroic."

Kelli Ward said on Friday: "We applaud the President for exercising his pardon authority to counter the assault on Sheriff Arpaio's heroic efforts to enforce the nation's immigration laws."

Thank you, @realDonaldTrump... @ Dr. Kelli Ward

Arizona 7th Congressional District Rep. Ruben Gallego: Trump "blessed Arpaio's racist and unconstitutional police practices."

Gallego said: ""

Vanita Gupta, head of the Leadership Conference of Civil and Human Rights: Trump has "yet again damaged himself."

Read Gupta's full statement below:

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Trump "used the cover of the storm," referring to Hurricane Harvey, to pardon Arpaio.

Schumer said:

" Instead of seeking to unify the country as promised, POTUS has doubled down on encouraging white supremacists post-Charlottesville. "

Republican strategist and conservative commentator Ana Navarro: "It's another slap in the face to the Latino community."

Navarro torched the pardon on Friday night:

Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut: This is a "middle finger to America."

Murphy said: ""

California Rep. Nanette Barragan said the pardon is "sending the message it is OK to racially profile."

Barragan, who represents California's 44th Congressional District, said the Arpaio pardon is ""

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse: "He does not deserve a pardon."

The Democratic Rhode Island senator said:

"Arpaio systemically discriminated against AZ Latinos in defiance of our Constitution and ignored our courts. He does not deserve a pardon. Now is a time to bind the wounds left by white nationalists’ repugnant attacks in Charlottesville. Instead, President Trump has again doubled down on the side of ignorance, bigotry, intolerance, and hate."

New York Rep. Nita Lowey: "A flagrant abuse of his pardoning powers."

Lowey, who represents the 17th Congressional District of New York, said:

Rep. Joe Kennedy of Massachusetts: "Nobody is above the law. Period."

Kennedy, who represents Massachusetts' 4th Congressional District said: @POTUS"

The American Civil Liberties Union said the pardon is a "presidential endorsement of racism."

Read the ACLU's full statement below:

Longtime Trump confidant Roger Stone: "Eat it, liberals!"

Roger Stone indicated he saw the pardon as a political move.

.@realDonaldTrump pardons J... @ Roger Stone

California Secretary of State Alex Padilla: "Another attack on American values."

Read Padilla's full statement on the Arpaio pardon below: