Dean Phillips

Dear Commons Community,

U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) on Friday urged New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) to pardon Donald Trump following the former president’s conviction on 34 charges in his hush money trial.  Phillips, a onetime presidential candidate who ended his long-shot bid for the White House in March, made the entreaty after Trump was found guilty of falsifying business records to cover up a payoff to a porn star who said that she’d slept with Trump — an affair that Trump has denied.

“Donald Trump is a serial liar, cheater, and philanderer, a six-time declarer of corporate bankruptcy, an instigator of insurrection, and a convicted felon who thrives on portraying himself as a victim,” Phillips wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “[Hochul] should pardon him for the good of the country.”

During the presidential primaries, Phillips said that he’d support Joe Biden if the Democratic incumbent were “15-20 years younger,” but that “it’s absurd” to nominate Biden in 2024 “considering his age.” He changed his tune upon losing to Biden in his home state on Super Tuesday.

Nonetheless, Phillips is now arguing that Biden’s Republican rival for the White House should not be made a “martyr over a payment to a porn star.”

“It’s energizing his base, generating record sums of campaign cash, and will likely result in an electoral boost,” he wrote Saturday, explaining his reasoning for a pardon.

But the New York governor has already suggested that she won’t consider the idea.

Phillips’ recommendation is interesting especially coming from a Democrat, however, there are several sides to it.  First, as he indicates, Trump is a vile, despicable individual and should be no where near the White House.  Second, when President Gerald Ford pardoned Richard Nixon, the country resented it and voted him out of office in 1976. Third, if Hochul was to pardon Trump, it would show an empathetic side of the Democratic Party that puts country above political party. I am not sure Republicans especially Trump’s base, appreciate this type of gesture.

I resented Ford for pardoning Nixon and cannot support pardoning Trump who exhibits far more disgraceful behavior.

Tony

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