On a December 11, 2024 episode of ABC’s “The View,” Ex-President Bill Clinton spoke about the potential for a presidential pardon for his wife, Hillary Clinton. The discussion highlighted the intricate dynamic between presidential powers, personal ties, and political repercussions.
“I think if President Biden wanted to talk to me about that, I would talk to him about it, but I don’t think I should be giving public advice on the pardon power,” said Clinton in reference to a possible preemptive pardon discussion with President Joe Biden.
Clinton used the platform to defend his wife against persistent accusations related to her email usage. He cited findings by the State Department under the Trump administration, which concluded that no classified emails were sent from Hillary Clinton’s personal device. “It was a made-up, phony story,” Clinton contended, describing the controversy as politically motivated despite years of scrutiny.
On the topic of potential political retaliation, Clinton talked about the possibility of former President Donald Trump returning to power. “I hope he won’t do that,” Clinton expressed, alluding to the potential targeting of political figures, including his wife.
Appearing on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” with host Joe Scarborough, former President Clinton spoke about his latest literary work, “Citizen,” which hit shelves back in November. The interview centered on a particularly candid portion of his book where Clinton addressed the aftermath of the 2016 presidential election.
Clinton’s memoir delved into his raw emotional response to the 2016 election results, expressing deep frustration over his wife Hillary’s loss to Donald Trump. The former President aimed what he saw as the media’s overblown coverage of the email scandal. Speaking to Scarborough about these events, Clinton suggested that the 2016 election was more comprehensible than the 2024 election due to two distinct anomalies that marked that earlier campaign.
This conversation takes place in the backdrop of President Biden’s recent substantial use of presidential clemency powers. The administration has granted commutations to roughly 1,500 individuals and pardoned 39 others convicted of nonviolent offenses, making it one of the most comprehensive clemency actions in recent presidential history.
President Biden’s approach to pardons has primarily been aimed at addressing what he sees as systemic issues within the criminal justice system. “America was built on the promise of possibility and second chances,” Biden stated when announcing the pardons, which included individuals convicted of marijuana offenses and other nonviolent crimes.
The discourse surrounding presidential pardons has been amplified due to recent developments involving legal challenges faced by Hunter Biden, the president’s son. His case, related to business affairs and substance use issues, has drawn particular focus to the administration’s use of pardon powers.
While criminal justice reform advocates have largely supported Biden’s expansive approach to pardons, debates continue over the influence of political factors in such decisions. The discussion of a potential pardon for Hillary Clinton adds an additional aspect to the ongoing discourse about the extent and application of presidential pardon powers.