Report: White House has paperwork in place to pardon Joe Arpaio

(FOX News) -- The necessary legal paperwork is in place for President Trump to pardon former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio should he decide to do so, FOX News has learned.

Trump still has to make a final decision, but administration officials also have developed talking points for surrogates to use should Trump issue his first presidential pardon to spare the former Arizona lawman. The development comes after Trump signaled during a rally in Phoenix, Ariz., Tuesday night he could make that call.

>>VIDEO: Arpaio's first on-camera interview discussing possible pardon

"I'll make a prediction. I think he's going to be just fine," Trump said of Arpaio. "But I won't do it tonight because I don't want to cause any controversy. Is that OK?"

Arpaio attorney Mark Goldman told Fox News neither he nor the former sheriff has had any contact with the White House or Justice Department.

However, he said, "We very much appreciate President Trump's comments. Sheriff Arpaio didn't receive a fair trial and it appears that miscarriage of justice is going to be rectified soon."