Joe Biden should have pardoned Donald Trump on all federal criminal charges the moment they were announced, the Utah senator and former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney said.

“Had I been President Biden,” Romney said, “when the justice department brought out indictments, I would have immediately pardoned him. I’d have pardoned President Trump.”

“Why? Well, because it makes me, President Biden, the big guy and the person I pardoned the little guy. And, number two, 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 was speaking to MSNBC, in an interview to be broadcast on The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle on Wednesday night.

  • toast@retrolemmy.com
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    6 months ago

    And, frankly, the country doesn’t want to have to go through prosecuting a former president.

    Yes, we do. We really, really do.

    • LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      If we are going to keep the death penalty around federally, an enemy of the state such as Trump is the perfect use. Maybe if we could ever get shit done, we’d ban the death penalty after it from all the people who wouldn’t want such to happen, are usually those voting to keep the death penalty.

  • QuantumSpecter@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    No, the corruption must end and Trump must be made an example off.

    Ever since Tricky Dicky and watergate, the politicians haven’t felt they can do get away with anything. It must stop!

  • Dagwood222@lemm.ee
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    6 months ago

    Same people who will let a 14 year old kid be tried as an adult think that a grown man should be let off scot free.

  • 0110010001100010@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    So here’s a radical idea Mitt, perhaps the previous president shouldn’t have committed numerous crimes? Then there wouldn’t be any need to prosecute him…

  • d00phy@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    So one of his reasons for not prosecuting criminal behavior by the sitting President is, “the country doesn’t feel like it!?”

    1. Says who?
    2. When you say shit like that, it’s really hard to believe the myth that nobody is above the law.
    3. You no longer get to say you’re the “law and order” anything.
  • Zomg@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    Maybe it’s true that some people dont want to prosecute a former president, but we have to for the sake of our future.

    • Paddzr@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      Only because it’s not in their favour. Had it been Obama? They’d do it in an instant!

  • Maggoty@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    So if a pardon is appropriate, doesn’t that mean presidents don’t enjoy immunity?

    • clutchtwopointzero@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      Excellent point. And pardons are only given after the legal system concluded someone is guilty. Mitt is advocating for executive interference over judicial processes.

      • barsquid@lemmy.world
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        6 months ago

        They can give out pardons prior to a guilty verdict. But, yeah, that’s what a pardon is, executive override.

      • PM_Your_Nudes_Please@lemmy.world
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        6 months ago

        They can technically pardon something before a conviction, but accepting the pardon requires admitting guilt to the crime. Basically, the pardon says “this person did it but I’m using executive override to remove any responsibility.” And accepting it is basically going “yeah I agree with both parts; I did it, and I’ll accept the executive override.” You can’t accept the latter “pardon” half without also accepting the former “they did it” half.

  • Marleyinoc@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    Yes, we do want the rich and politicians to be held accountable.

    I wonder why a rich politician would say such a thing.

  • n0m4n@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    Romney believes that if he folds like Chamberlain, that Republicans can control Trump. Chamberlain was wrong, and so is Romney.

    • Ashyr@sh.itjust.works
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      6 months ago

      Eh, there’s some good eggs out there. Katie Porter, AOC, Bernie Sanders, etc…

      The system resists them, but they’re out there. I’ve often considered trying to do it myself, because someone has to.