When reporters outside the White House asked President Biden about the possibility of pardoning Donald Trump, his response was not surprising.
President Biden faced a barrage of questions from reporters outside the White House about the potential pardoning of former President Donald Trump. In a characteristic fashion, Biden responded with a dismissive smile and a hint of laughter, while making his way toward his aircraft, Marine One, leaving the inquisitive journalists behind.
The journalists’ inquiries came in the wake of remarks made by Republican candidate and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who raised the possibility of pardoning Trump if DeSantis were to assume the presidency. DeSantis, a prominent contender for the GOP nomination in 2024, expressed interest in considering pardons for Trump and people associated with the January 6 riots, as long as Trump faced federal charges and subsequent conviction.
During an appearance on the “Clay and Buck” radio program, DeSantis outlined his intentions to assemble a dedicated team upon assuming office, tasked with reviewing cases that he believed were subjected to unjust targeting or political bias. He pledged to proactively issue pardons as part of his governing agenda.
In contrast, President Biden had previously pledged during his 2020 campaign not to follow the controversial path taken by President Gerald Ford when he pardoned Richard Nixon. In a town hall event conducted online in May 2015, Biden firmly stated his reluctance to grant Trump a pardon under similar circumstances.
Right now, Trump is facing scrutiny from a New York grand jury on more than 30 charges related to alleged falsification of business documents, matters falling under the jurisdiction of the state and beyond the scope of presidential pardons. Additionally, Special Counsel Jack Smith, appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland, has indicted Trump with charges of unlawful possession of classified information. He is also under investigation for obstruction of justice, and his role in the Capitol invasion on January 6.
With these ongoing investigations, the specter of federal indictments looms over Trump. President Biden’s response to inquiries suggests a disinclination to offer a pardon, opting instead to allow the judicial process to run its course and for justice to be served.je