Former President Bill Clinton addressed the possibility of a presidential pardon for his wife, Hillary Clinton, during a December 11, 2024 appearance on ABC’s “The View.” The conversation highlighted the complex intersection of presidential powers, personal relationships, and political implications.
“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,” Clinton stated when discussing a potential preemptive pardon with President Joe Biden.
Clinton took the opportunity to defend his wife against long-standing allegations regarding her email practices. He pointed to findings from the State Department under the Trump administration, which concluded that no classified emails were transmitted through Hillary Clinton’s personal device. “It was a made-up, phony story,” Clinton asserted, characterizing the controversy as politically motivated despite years of investigation.
Addressing concerns about potential political retribution, Clinton spoke about former President Donald Trump’s return to office. “I hope he won’t do that,” Clinton remarked, referencing the potential targeting of political figures, including his wife.
The discussion comes amid President Biden’s recent significant use of presidential clemency powers. The administration has issued commutations for approximately 1,500 individuals and pardoned 39 others convicted of nonviolent crimes, marking one of the most extensive clemency actions in recent presidential history.
Biden’s approach to pardons has focused primarily on addressing what he perceives 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 encompassed individuals convicted of marijuana offenses and other nonviolent crimes.
The conversation surrounding presidential pardons has intensified due to recent developments involving Hunter Biden’s legal challenges. The president’s son’s case, involving business dealings and substance use issues, has drawn particular attention to the administration’s use of pardon powers.
Criminal justice reform advocates have largely supported Biden’s broad approach to pardons, though debates persist about the role of political considerations in such decisions. Discussing a potential pardon for Hillary Clinton adds another layer to ongoing conversations about the scope and application of presidential pardon powers.