Biden should have pardoned Trump on federal charges, Mitt Romney says

girlfreddy@lemmy.ca to News@lemmy.world – 124 points –
Biden should have pardoned Trump on federal charges, Mitt Romney says
theguardian.com

Joe Biden should have pardoned Donald Trump on all federal criminal charges the moment they were announced, the Utah senator and former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney said.

“Had I been President Biden,” Romney said, “when the justice department brought out indictments, I would have immediately pardoned him. I’d have pardoned President Trump.”

“Why? Well, because it makes me, President Biden, the big guy and the person I pardoned the little guy. And, number two, it’s not going to get resolved before the election. It’s not going to have an impact before the election. And, frankly, the country doesn’t want to have to go through prosecuting a former president.”

Romney was speaking to MSNBC, in an interview to be broadcast on The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle on Wednesday night.

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And, frankly, the country doesn’t want to have to go through prosecuting a former president.

Yes, we do. We really, really do.

Frankly, the country shouldn’t listen to people who wear magic underwear, yet here you are.

The American people never wanted Trump in the first place.

If we are going to keep the death penalty around federally, an enemy of the state such as Trump is the perfect use. Maybe if we could ever get shit done, we'd ban the death penalty after it from all the people who wouldn't want such to happen, are usually those voting to keep the death penalty.

No, the corruption must end and Trump must be made an example off.

Ever since Tricky Dicky and watergate, the politicians haven't felt they can do get away with anything. It must stop!

I guess that’s why Mittens has never been president.

Though Gerald Ford as his model for presidential behavior certainly tracks.

Mittens was the "God Emperor" of Goonswarm. He was also a totally different person, though he is a lawyer.

Heh, as years go by, less and less folks recognize my bee stickers at the office. Fucking spais anyways... ;p

Same people who will let a 14 year old kid be tried as an adult think that a grown man should be let off scot free.

So here's a radical idea Mitt, perhaps the previous president shouldn't have committed numerous crimes? Then there wouldn't be any need to prosecute him...

So one of his reasons for not prosecuting criminal behavior by the sitting President is, “the country doesn’t feel like it!?”

  1. Says who?
  2. When you say shit like that, it’s really hard to believe the myth that nobody is above the law.
  3. You no longer get to say you’re the “law and order” anything.

Maybe it's true that some people dont want to prosecute a former president, but we have to for the sake of our future.

Only because it's not in their favour. Had it been Obama? They'd do it in an instant!

So if a pardon is appropriate, doesn't that mean presidents don't enjoy immunity?

Excellent point. And pardons are only given after the legal system concluded someone is guilty. Mitt is advocating for executive interference over judicial processes.

They can technically pardon something before a conviction, but accepting the pardon requires admitting guilt to the crime. Basically, the pardon says “this person did it but I’m using executive override to remove any responsibility.” And accepting it is basically going “yeah I agree with both parts; I did it, and I’ll accept the executive override.” You can’t accept the latter “pardon” half without also accepting the former “they did it” half.

They can give out pardons prior to a guilty verdict. But, yeah, that's what a pardon is, executive override.

Romney believes that if he folds like Chamberlain, that Republicans can control Trump. Chamberlain was wrong, and so is Romney.

Yes, we do want the rich and politicians to be held accountable.

I wonder why a rich politician would say such a thing.

Politicians are not good people. And they don’t want the law affecting them.

Eh, there's some good eggs out there. Katie Porter, AOC, Bernie Sanders, etc...

The system resists them, but they're out there. I've often considered trying to do it myself, because someone has to.

If you're serious about this, there are resources available.

I don't give 47% of a shit what Mittens the Car Topper Dog has to say.

If Biden doesn't win, we will probably get a bystander idea of what the Book of Revelations looks like. I mean, if you can blatantly commit crimes, including insurrection, when Trump is sidelined, imagine what is possible when he's back in charge?

I'm not even American but this will even impact upon me. Indirectly, what you guys do over there follows us home in lots of ways.

This wouldn't fly with them if tables were turned. What is he even going on about? This is so disconnected. #LifeBeforeRegunz

More proof Mitt does not belong anywhere near the government, as if we didn't have enough proof already. Extremely shameful for the country that he has the position he does.

I mean I do agree with the points that it would be torture for Trump to have to choose between being the focus of a witch hunt or the pitiful disgraced president who only was saved by the kindness of his opponent. When I heard Biden is "throwing down the gauntlet" to debate Trump again, I let out the biggest groan. If I were him I wouldn't give Trump a platform to look like an equal. I know it feels good to want to beat the living shit out of Trump, but I understand from a political perspective that it might not be the best strategy to win in 2024. I liked it better when Biden was acting senile and not childish.

After that it's hard not to see the negative consequences of pardoning Trump. There should be a message to other politicians that we are not afraid to send you to jail.

Prosecute the shit out of that traitor. Fuck you Mitt you vulture.

I really thought his answer would be “ because then he wouldn’t be running” or “ so he couldn’t plea the fifth