In the aftermath of Donald Trump’s indictment, his allies have been making a concerted effort to pressure his Republican primary rivals into promising a pardon for him. This demand is not coincidental. Prior to his arraignment, Trump took to the phones to discuss his case with allies and strategize a way forward. According to Yahoo, sources familiar with the matter stated that Trump repeatedly requested his supporters to publicly criticize Ron DeSantis for not committing to pardoning him, both on television and social media.
There are two main objectives behind Trump’s demand. Firstly, he seeks to shield himself from legal repercussions in the event that he loses both the GOP primary and his federal court case. However, it appears that the demand for a pardon pledge is primarily a political move, as Trump is confident he will defeat DeSantis and any other primary challengers. The question itself puts any Republican in a difficult position. They must either side with Trump and keep him in the campaign spotlight or align themselves with Joe Biden and the Justice Department, which is an uncomfortable position for them.
The MAGA-aligned Republican strategist notes the predicament faced by Ron DeSantis, stating that condemning the Justice Department and Biden would essentially mean defending Trump and admitting that he was right. On the other hand, publicly criticizing Trump would leave no viable lane for DeSantis to run on. Remaining silent is also not an option, as it would draw attention and scrutiny. Rolling Stone reached out to the DeSantis campaign for comment but received no response regarding the governor’s stance on a potential pardon.
Meanwhile, Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung responded to the inquiry by accusing DeSantis of hiding and running a consultant-driven campaign during Trump’s indictment. Thus far, DeSantis has chosen to condemn the Justice Department while remaining silent on the topic of a pardon. On the day the indictment news broke, he criticized the Justice Department and promised that his administration would bring accountability and end political bias within the DOJ.
Special counsel Jack Smith has charged Trump with 37 counts related to retaining classified information and obstructing justice by concealing at least 31 classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago residence. The indictment includes incriminating evidence, such as a transcript that appears to be Trump admitting to withholding declassification of war plans while he was president.
