Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has hinted at the possibility of granting a pardon to former President Donald Trump if he were to be elected as president. However, DeSantis also expressed reservations about Trump’s age, stating that it would not be advantageous for the country to have an “almost 80-year-old former president incarcerated.”
Drawing a Parallel to Gerald Ford’s Controversial Decision
In drawing a comparison, DeSantis pointed to former President Gerald Ford’s controversial decision to pardon Richard Nixon, emphasizing the criticism Ford faced as a result. DeSantis posed the question of whether the country should choose to move forward or remain entangled in past controversies.
Previous Stance on Pardons
In the past, Governor DeSantis had declared that his administration would take an assertive approach to issuing pardons, including to those involved in the January 6 Capitol riots, potentially including Trump if he were convicted.
New Charges Arise Against Trump
Trump now faces three additional federal charges, including violating an Espionage Act provision and two counts of obstruction. Prosecutors allege that Trump instructed his Mar-a-Lago property manager to delete security footage in an attempt to hide classified documents.
Trump’s Response and Republican Support
In response to the new charges, Trump criticized officials from the Justice Department in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social. Trump questioned why no other president had been charged in relation to handling sensitive information. Several prominent Republicans came to Trump’s defense, claiming that the investigation was politically motivated. Some 2024 Republican presidential candidates, such as Mike Pence and Nikki Haley, indicated that they would consider pardoning Trump if he were to be convicted.
Controversy Surrounding Self-Pardoning
Back in 2018, Trump asserted his right to pardon himself as president. However, legal experts have raised doubts about the legality of such an action. The Justice Department had previously issued an opinion during the Nixon Administration, affirming that presidents cannot pardon themselves.