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Wife of former sheriff Joe Arpaio recovering from rattlesnake bite

The wife of former Maricopa County sheriff Joe Arpaio was bitten by a rattlesnake at the couple's Arizona home Friday.

FOUNTAIN HILLS, Ariz. — The wife of former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio was bitten by a rattlesnake at their Arizona home Friday, the Arizona Republic reported.

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Ava Arpaio was working on her computer in her office around 10 a.m. when the snake bit her on the left foot, Joe Arpaio told the newspaper.

"She's tough. If she can put up with me for 60 years, then she can handle a snake bite," Joe Arpaio told the Republic.

Joe Arpaio, 86, said the large rattlesnake was removed by fire crews.

"Must've been a Democrat," the longtime Republican joked to the Republic.

Ava Arpaio likely will be in a hospital for "two or three" days, her husband told the newspaper.

Arpaio served as sheriff of Maricopa County for 24 years until losing re-election to Democrat Paul Penzone in 2016.

The 86-year-old lawman made national news for his Tent City Jail where inmates were housed in Korean War era army tents, KSAZ reported.

Joe Arpaio was convicted of a criminal charge in July 2017 for refusing to stop traffic patrols that targeted immigrants. He was pardoned a month later by President Donald Trump.