In a recent interview, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis hinted at the possibility of pardoning former President Donald Trump, should he win the presidency in the 2024 election. This statement comes amid a flurry of legal challenges facing Trump, including potential indictments related to the January 6th Capitol riots and his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
During a sit-down with conservative political commentator Megyn Kelly, DeSantis expressed his views on the matter. "I'm going to do what's right for the country," he stated, adding, "I don't think it would be good for the country to have an almost 80-year-old former president go to prison. It just doesn't seem like it would be a good thing."
DeSantis further questioned whether the country should remain entangled in past controversies or seek a fresh start. "At the end of the day, it's like, do we want to move forward as a country? Or do we want to be mired in these past controversies?" he asked, suggesting that the public might prefer a new beginning.
The Florida Governor also criticized what he termed the "weaponization of the government," pledging to end practices that, in his view, "really hurt the cause of freedom." He argued that the issue extends beyond one individual, hinting at Trump's ongoing legal battles. "It's not just about one person, it's about, do we have a rule of law? Or is it just about wielding power against people you don't like?" he questioned.
DeSantis's comments come amid rumors that Trump may face a new indictment related to the Capitol riots and his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. Trump recently became the first current or former U.S. president to be criminally charged. A grand jury indicted him in connection with an alleged hush-money payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.
In addition, Trump faces 37 counts for allegedly mishandling classified documents discovered at his Mar-a-Lago resort during an August 2022 raid. Charges include willful retention of classified information, withholding a record, conspiracy, false statements, and obstruction.
Trump's spokesperson, Steven Cheung, has dismissed these allegations as a desperate attempt by the Biden administration to harass the former president. "This is nothing more than a continued desperate and flailing attempt by the Biden Crime Family and their Department of Justice to harass President Trump and those around him," Cheung declared.