(CNN) President Donald Trump asked Attorney General Jeff Sessions this past spring whether it would be possible to drop the federal case against Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio, but was rebuffed at the time, a White House official has confirmed to CNN.

Trump had been closely following Arpaio's case long before pardoning him on Friday, and months ago asked Sessions and other administration lawyers, including White House counsel Don McGahn, whether his administration could intercede in the matter, the official said Sunday.

Sessions and other officials told the President the case could not be closed, the official said. The official confirmed the account, first reported by The Washington Post , that the President was eager to help Arpaio, a longtime supporter who shares similar views to the President on immigration.

Sessions told Trump it would be inappropriate for him to interfere in the federal case against Arpaio, one of Trump's most ardent allies, according to three people with knowledge of the conversation who spoke with the Post.

Trump eventually decided to let the case go to trial with the plan of pardoning Arpaio if he was convicted, according to the report.

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