Senator Mitt Romney of Utah suggested that President Joe Biden should have pardoned Donald Trump following his federal indictment; he posits that the move would have established control over the political narrative. Romney, a consistent critic of Trump, discussed this perspective during an MSNBC interview, which aired on “The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle.”
“By pardoning President Trump, President Biden could have positioned himself as the bigger man, effectively reducing the person he pardoned to a lesser status,” Romney explained. This maneuver, he argued, would have prevented the prolonged legal battles that might overshadow the upcoming election cycle. “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 said.
Trump, despite facing 88 criminal charges, remains a dominant figure in the Republican Party, maintaining his position as the presumptive Republican presidential nominee. His charges span federal and state levels, including cases of election subversion and retention of classified information.
Romney also criticized Biden’s handling of the situation, stating that a proactive pardon could have prevented the legal spectacle and political turmoil that now ensues. He drew parallels with past presidents like Lyndon B. Johnson, who, according to Romney, would have exerted significant influence to prevent such prosecutorial actions.
The senator’s comments come amid strong shows of support for Trump by potential vice presidential candidates outside the Manhattan courthouse, where Trump faces trial. Romney expressed dismay at these displays, labeling them as demeaning attempts to curry favor with Trump.
Romney’s stance reflects a deep-seated concern about the implications of Trump’s legal battles on the integrity of the U.S. legal system. “I think it’s a terrible fault for our country to see people attacking our legal system — that’s an enormous mistake,” he lamented.
