In a December 11, 2024 episode of ABC’s “The View,” former President Bill Clinton addressed the subject of a potential presidential pardon for his wife, Hillary Clinton. The conversation underscored the intricacy of presidential power, personal relationships, and political fallout.
Clinton indicated he would be open to discussing a potential preemptive pardon with President Joe Biden. “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,” he said.
In the same conversation, Clinton defended his wife against long-held accusations concerning her email habits. He cited results from the Trump administration’s State Department, which determined that Hillary Clinton did not transmit any classified emails using her personal device. “It was a made-up, phony story,” Clinton stated, arguing that the controversy was politically driven despite years of scrutiny.
When the topic shifted to potential political retaliation, Clinton discussed the possibility of former President Donald Trump returning to the presidency. “I hope he won’t do that,” Clinton said, referring to the prospect of Trump targeting political adversaries, including his wife.
This discussion occurred in the context of President Biden’s recent considerable use of the presidential clemency powers. The Biden administration has granted commutations to approximately 1,500 people and pardoned 39 others convicted of nonviolent offenses, reflecting one of the broadest uses of clemency in recent presidential history.
Biden’s strategy for pardons has largely centered on addressing what he sees as systemic issues in the criminal justice system. “America was built on the promise of possibility and second chances,” Biden stated during the announcement of the pardons, which included individuals convicted of marijuana offenses and other nonviolent crimes.
The discourse around presidential pardons has been amplified due to recent developments in legal challenges faced by Hunter Biden, the president’s son. His case, which involves business transactions and substance abuse issues, has drawn further attention to the administration’s use of pardon powers.
While criminal justice reform advocates have largely applauded Biden’s expansive approach to pardons, debates continue over the influence of political factors in such decisions. The discussion of a potential pardon for Hillary Clinton adds another dimension to ongoing dialogues about the reach and implementation of presidential pardon powers.
