Mitt Romney's Stance on Pardoning Trump as President Biden

Utah GOP Sen. Mitt Romney stated that if he were President Joe Biden, he would have chosen to "immediately pardon" former President Donald Trump. In an interview with MSNBC's "The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle" scheduled to air on Wednesday, Romney expressed his perspective on the matter. He mentioned that if he were in Biden's position when indictments were brought by the Justice Department, he would have taken the step to pardon Trump. According to Romney, this decision would have made him, as President Biden, appear magnanimous while positioning the person he pardoned, President Trump, as the smaller figure in the situation.

Trump, the presumed Republican presidential nominee, is currently facing a total of 88 charges spread across four criminal indictments in various states - Georgia, New York, Washington, DC, and Florida. The federal cases in Washington, DC and Florida are being handled by Special Counsel Jack Smith.

Despite being a longtime critic of Trump, Romney expressed his disagreement with Biden's approach to the federal cases. Additionally, Romney criticized Trump's attacks on the courts and called out fellow Republicans who are attempting to gain favor with the former president during his hush money trial in Manhattan.

The former president, who has denied all charges against him, continues to make unfounded accusations that Biden is using the Justice Department against his 2024 election opponent. He has also been criticizing the judges handling his cases, leading to security concerns and threats being made against some of them.

Romney expressed his disapproval of those who attack the legal system, calling it a serious mistake for our country.

Allies of the former president, such as North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, have been showing their support for Trump at the Manhattan criminal courthouse. Both Burgum and Vance are being considered as potential running mates for Trump.

Romney expressed his opinion on the situation, stating, "I think it’s also demeaning for people to quite apparently try and run for vice president by donning a red tie and standing outside the courthouse. It’s just, I’d have felt awkward."

Politicians such as Florida Reps. Byron Donalds and Cory Mills, along with former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, are defending the former president against those he is not allowed to publicly discuss due to a gag order issued by the judge in the Manhattan hush money trial.

Senator Romney has been a vocal critic of Trump, often calling out fellow Republicans for their unwavering support of the ex-president. He accused Trump of abuse of power during the first impeachment trial and was the first senator to vote to remove a president from his own party. Romney also joined six other Republicans in convicting Trump of inciting the Capitol insurrection on January 6. Despite being a member of the same party, Romney did not vote for Trump in 2020 and has declared he will not support him in the 2024 election.

The 77-year-old senator was the Republican Party nominee in the 2012 presidential race, but he lost to Democratic incumbent Barack Obama. Romney, who is known for his unique voice in the Senate and willingness to challenge his own party, announced last year that he would not run for reelection.

CNN’s Clare Foran and Morgan Rimmer contributed to this report.

Editor's P/S:

Mitt Romney's suggestion that President Biden should pardon former President Trump is a controversial proposal that has sparked mixed reactions. While some may view it as a magnanimous gesture that could potentially de-escalate the ongoing legal battles, others see it as a dangerous precedent that would undermine the rule of law.

Romney's argument that pardoning Trump would make Biden appear magnanimous is flawed. It is more likely that such a move would be seen as a sign of weakness and a betrayal of the principle that no one is above the law. Additionally, it is important to consider the potential consequences of pardoning Trump. Would it embolden him to continue his dangerous rhetoric and actions? Would it send a message to other potential lawbreakers that they could commit crimes with impunity if they have enough political support? These are serious questions that must be carefully considered before any decision is made.