Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) on Saturday said she wasn’t surprised by President Trump’s decision to pardon former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio, calling the president “one of” the “white nationalists” and “KKK”.

“I’m not surprised Trump pardoned racial profiler Arpaio. White Nationalists, KKK, & Duke celebrated Trump’s election b/c he is one of them!” Waters tweeted.

“Trump disrespects minorities, lifts up white nationalists, demeans women & every day finds a way to undermine civil rights. He is deplorable,” Waters continued.

I’m not surprised Trump pardoned racial profiler Arpaio. White Nationalists, KKK, & Duke celebrated Trump’s election b/c he is one of them!

— Maxine Waters (@RepMaxineWaters) August 26, 2017

Trump disrespects minorities, lifts up white nationalists, demeans women & every day finds a way to undermine civil rights. He is deplorable

— Maxine Waters (@RepMaxineWaters) August 26, 2017

In a subsequent tweet, Waters hinted that the pardon signals “an act of desperation” during the ongoing special counsel investigation into alleged ties between the Trump campaign and Russia during the 2016 election.

“Trump knows the walls are closing in on him & Russia collusion. His actions this week are acts of desperation. Ultimately, Congress must act,” Waters wrote in the tweet.

Trump knows the walls are closing in on him & Russia collusion. His actions this week are acts of desperation. Ultimately, Congress must act

— Maxine Waters (@RepMaxineWaters) August 26, 2017

Waters’ last tweet mirrors statements from other Democrats on Friday and Saturday who speculated that Trump was sending a signal to allies at the center of the Russia investigation that he rewards loyalty with pardons.

Fellow California Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff posted similar tweets Saturday afternoon.{mosads}

“Arpaio action was appalling & political. It also sends [a] message to witnesses in Russia investigation to keep quiet, stay loyal [and] get pardon,” Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said in a tweet on Saturday.

Schiff and Waters have been top critics of Trump over the investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. Rumors have been swirling for months around Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation and whether any member of the Trump campaign will be convicted of wrongdoing. 

The White House announced on Friday the president would pardon Arpaio, who had been found guilty of racially profiling. 

Arpaio was scheduled to be sentenced in October. 

Trump’s decision to spare Arpaio has stirred controversy on both sides of the political aisle.