Geraldo Rivera urges Joe Biden to pardon Donald Trump “the way Ford pardoned Nixon,” but with a crucial stipulation: Trump must pledge to “no longer seek the presidency.”
On Tuesday, Geraldo tweeted, “Biden pardoning Trump-the way Ford pardoned Nixon- IS a good idea. This clemency to include inciting the violence of January 6th, the Mar-a-Lago documents case & any other federal allegation. Clemency would require a pledge by Trump that he will no longer seek the presidency.”
Geraldo made the initial “for the good of the nation” suggestion in November of last year, shortly after Trump announced he would run for president in 2024. Since then, Geraldo has modified his pardon proposal to prohibit Trump from running for the presidency again.
Despite the fact that Trump himself has not responded, Geraldo’s suggestion received a great deal of ridicule on Twitter.
Biden pardoning Trump-the way Ford pardoned Nixon- IS a good idea. This clemency to include inciting the violence of January 6th, the Mar-a-Lago documents case & any other federal allegation.
Clemency would require a pledge by Trump that he will no longer seek the presidency. https://t.co/N3dSa6xCzU— Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) May 30, 2023
One evidently sarcastic individual responded, “I believe attacking and imprisoning political opponents is the way to go.” We cannot allow our political opponents to obtain more government seats.”
I think attacking and jailing political opponents is the way to go. We can’t allow our political enemies to gain more seats in government.
— Jake (@mediachecker) May 30, 2023
Trump’s multiple legal issues, which are all being pressed by Democrats who claim he was responsible for the violence at the Capitol on January 6, the confidential documents at Mar-a-Lago, and his alleged payment to Stormy Daniels, could all be resolved with a pardon. The former president was recently found liable for the sexual assault and defamation of columnist E. Jean Carroll, which resulted in a $5 million judgment for damages. Carroll has filed additional accusations for an additional $10 million in damages in response to Trump’s characterization of her as a “whack job” during the CNN Town Hall.
Asa Hutchinson (R), a long shot for the presidency, responded to the pardon question as follows.
“To begin with, a presidential pardon would not apply to state offenses… I’ve always maintained that Trump’s fate should be decided at the polls, not in court.
2024 presidential candidate Asa Hutchinson (R), when asked if he would pardon Trump if elected president:
“First of all, a presidential pardon would not cover state crimes … I've always said that Trump's future should be decided at the ballot box and not in the courtroom.” pic.twitter.com/QCuyIRNx4I
— The Recount (@therecount) May 30, 2023
There is a theory that, if re-elected, Trump would pardon himself.
Ty Cobb, a former attorney for Donald Trump, revealed to CNN’s Erin Burnett last week, “He doesn’t have the power to pardon himself until he’s actually inaugurated. So, if there’s a verdict, say, before the election in November, sentencing could easily occur in advance of him taking office.”
Trump’s attorneys contacted Attorney General Merrick Garland last week, claiming their client is being treated unjustly.
The attorneys for Trump sent a letter to Garland. It states:
“We represent Donald J. Trump, the 45′ President of the United States, in the investigation currently being conducted by the Special Counsel’s Office. Unlike President Biden, his son Hunter, and the Biden family, President Trump is being treated unfairly. No President of the United States has ever, in the history of our country, been baselessly investigated in such an outrageous and unlawful fashion. We request a meeting at your earliest convenience to discuss the ongoing injustice that is being perpetrated by your Special Counsel and his prosecutors.”
According to a source with knowledge of the investigation, the letter arrives as Special Counsel Jack Smith attempts to conclude his investigation into the Trump classified materials issue.
It is unknown when Smith will release the investigation’s findings or whether he will charge Trump.
In November 2022, after the FBI searched Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on August 8, 2022 for missing sensitive documents, Garland appointed Smith as special counsel.
“Several former FBI agents, prosecutors, and CIA officials have reacted with shock to reports the federal bureau was “afraid” to investigate Donald Trump’s handling of classified materials,” Newsweek reported in March.
More on this story via The Republic Brief:
According to a report by The Washington Post, the FBI was hesitant to raid the former president’s Mar-a-Lago residence in August 2022 to recover long-sought-after sensitive materials and instead wanted Trump to voluntarily hand them over. CONTINUE READING…
