When reporters outside the White House asked President Biden about possibly pardoning Trump, his response was not surprising.
The President responded with a dismissive smile and a laugh, quickly making his way towards Marine One.
The inquiry was prompted by recent remarks from Republican candidate and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who hinted at pardoning Trump should he win the presidency. DeSantis, a serious contender for the 2024 GOP nomination, declared his intention to contemplate pardoning Trump and the January 6 riot participants if Trump was found guilty of a federal offense.
During his appearance on the “Clay and Buck” radio show, DeSantis stated his plan to assemble a team immediately upon assuming office to investigate cases of individuals he feels were singled out or subject to political bias. He vowed to be forward-leaning in granting pardons.
Biden, during his 2020 campaign, made a pledge diverging from the controversial decision of President Gerald Ford to pardon Richard Nixon. In a virtual town hall in May 2015, he asserted he wouldn’t pardon Trump under comparable circumstances.
Currently, Trump is under scrutiny from a New York grand jury for over 30 counts of business record falsification, charges beyond the reach of presidential pardons as they originate from state jurisdiction. In addition, Special Counsel Jack Smith, appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland, is leading probes into Trump’s alleged illicit retention of national defense information and the hindrance of the corresponding investigation, plus his role in the January 6 Capitol assault.
Amidst ongoing investigations, the possibility of Trump facing federal charges remains, and President Biden’s reaction suggests he’s unlikely to intervene with a pardon, letting the wheels of justice turn unimpeded.