President Trump said he may pardon Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio, who was found guilty two weeks ago of criminal contempt for defying a state judge’s order to stop targeting suspected undocumented immigrants for traffic stops, a new report said Monday.

The Maricopa County sheriff was an ardent Trump backer who also backed his birther views, arguing as recently as December that ex-President Obama’s Hawaii birth certificate was a fake.

“I am seriously considering a pardon for Sheriff Arpaio,” the president told Fox News on Sunday at his club in Bedminster, New Jersey.

“He has done a lot in the fight against illegal immigration. He’s a great American patriot and I hate to see what has happened to him,” Trump added in the interview, which was broadcast on Monday.

Trump said the pardon could happen in the next few days, should he decide to do so.

Arpaio was convicted by federal Judge Susan Bolton of misdemeanor contempt of court for willfully disregarding an Arizona judge’s order to stop the anti-immigrant traffic enforcement.

He is expected to be sentenced on Oct. 5 and could face up to six months in jail, but since he is 85 and has no prior convictions he may escape jail time.

“Is there anyone in local law enforcement who has done more to crack down on illegal immigration than Sheriff Joe?” Trump asked.

“He has protected people from crimes and saved lives. He doesn’t deserve to be treated this way.”