Republican presidential candidates have thus far failed to offer a promise to pardon former President Donald Trump should they win the election in 2024, with the exception of one man.
Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who was one of the first to enter the GOP primary and is currently languishing well behind the rest of the field from the onset due to low name recognition, was the only one to exhibit a spine in responding to the politically motivated indictment of Trump.
Trump was charged Thursday following Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into alleged improper handling of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago home. He is the only one of several prominent politicians to be embroiled in a classified document matter who has been the victim of such malicious prosecution.
The charges include willfully retaining national defense secrets in violation of the Espionage Act, making false statements, and a conspiracy to obstruct justice – the latter carrying a maximum 20-year prison sentence.
Ramaswamy acknowledged the political benefit he and other Republicans might enjoy with Trump’s legal woes, but he decided to focus on principle instead. It is an admirable concept apparently outdated in today’s GOP.
“It would be much easier for me to win this election if Trump weren’t in the race, but I stand for principles over politics,” he tweeted. “I commit to pardon Trump promptly on January 20, 2025, and to restore the rule of law in our country.”
We can’t have two tiers of justice: one for Trump, another for Biden. One for Assange, another for Manning. One for BLM/Antifa, another for peaceful protesters on Jan 6.
I never thought we’d see the day when the U.S. President deputizes the DOJ to arrest his lead rival in the…
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) June 9, 2023
RELATED: Mark Levin Goes Nuclear After Trump Indicted: THIS Is The Insurrection!
Nobody Else Had the Courage To Promise A Trump Pardon?
In his statement, Ramaswamy noted the obvious two-tiered system of justice which has become glaringly evident with Hillary Clinton, Mike Pence, and even President Biden somehow managing to evade legal peril with their own classified document discoveries.
“I never thought we’d see the day when the U.S. President deputizes the DOJ to arrest his lead rival in the middle of an election,” Ramaswamy lamented.
Now, we know what you’re thinking. “Sure, it’s real easy to promise things when you have little to no chance of actually winning the nomination.”
And that’s a fair point.
But, do you know who else has very little chance of winning? Former Vice President Pence, who, rather than promising a pardon skated around the topic like he was Brian Boitano.
Mike Pence is asked, if elected President, would he pardon Donald Trump. Spoiler alert: He squirms and won’t answer. (Video: CNN) pic.twitter.com/Ky09rIVaWr
— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) June 8, 2023
“I don’t want to speak about hypotheticals,” Pence cowered.
So brave, so stunning.
This is especially rich coming from somebody who recently managed to be fortunate enough to escape the politically motivated Biden Justice Department. We can’t help but wonder if he’d want a pardon if his political opponents actually harassed him into submission as they’re doing to Trump.
Last week, the Justice Department informed attorneys for Pence that they had closed their case, and that he would not be charged in the discovery of classified documents at his home.
Lucky him.
Pence: not indicted
Clinton: not indicted
Biden: not indictedfor inappropriate retention of classified documents.
Leading candidate for president in opposition to current regime, Trump: INDICTED
for inappropriate retention of of classified documents.
— Will Cain (@willcain) June 8, 2023
DeSantis Shrinks Too
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) also had an opportunity to address a Trump pardon, but he disappointingly shrank from any sort of commitment.
Daily Mail reported that despite issuing a strongly worded response to the indictment of the former President, DeSantis “stopped short of saying he would pardon Trump if he won the 2024 race and the former president was convicted.”
“The weaponization of federal law enforcement represents a mortal threat to a free society,” DeSantis said.
‘Why so zealous in pursuing Trump yet so passive about Hillary or Hunter?’
DeSantis tears into DOJ as his 2024 rival is hit with 7 fed charges – but stops short of saying he wld pardon him
He can’t mention pardon right now https://t.co/7tU99MUa7F https://t.co/cfqGh64t9s
— Myrna ?? (@GigaBeers) June 9, 2023
“We have for years witnessed an uneven application of the law depending upon political affiliation,” DeSantis continued. “Why so zealous in pursuing Trump yet so passive about Hillary or Hunter?”
Strongly worded statements are a dime a dozen in today’s GOP. Turning the courage of your convictions into action – now that would be a standout move.
Ron, if you believe there has been an unjust application of the law, and that Trump has been the victim of the “weaponization of federal law enforcement,” then a pardon is a no-brainer.
Just say it.
Will anybody be courageous enough to join Ramaswamy in vowing to pardon Donald Trump?
Only time will tell.