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On Tuesday, charges against the sheriff in a federal gun case were dismissed with prejudice after 597 days in what the sheriff called a "malicious" attack on him and his character.
"With almost 35 years in law enforcement, I've always believed in the justice system," Jenkins said. "I've never seen anything like this in my life."
Jenkins, 67, a Thurmont resident, was arraigned last year and pleaded not guilty after being accused by a federal grand jury indictment for an alleged years-long scheme to import machine guns into the county with Machine Gun Nest owner Justin Krop, who was found not guilty on any charges in October.
According to Frederick County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer and spokesperson Todd Wivell, the indictment came as a surprise to the sheriff, who had reportedly been working with both the Department of Justice and ATF for more than a year amid their investigation.
During a press conference after his exoneration, Jenkins took to the offensive and fired shots back at those who prosecuted him for nearly two years.
"I believe the DOJ has made every attempt and every effort to ruin my reputation as a sheriff ... to mentally punish and torture me ... and financially destroy me, knowing very well that I committed no crimes.
"This ordeal has made me believe that the people that are currently running the system are not the right people."
Jenkins stressed that he never planned to plead guilty or stepping down, which paid off with all pending motions and court dates dismissed and vacated.
"For 597 days, I have been the target of a malicious, and I believe political persecution, and the public now realizes (the truth)," he said. "I finally have my life back."
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