In an exclusive interview on MSNBC’s “The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle,” Republican Senator Mitt Romney of Utah weighed in on the ongoing legal proceedings against former President Donald Trump. Romney expressed his disappointment with Republican lawmakers who rallied outside the Manhattan courthouse where Trump’s hush money trial is taking place, viewing it as an attack on the legal system.
Asked about his feelings regarding Republicans’ defense of Trump, including those vying for vice presidential nominations, Romney criticized the spectacle, describing it as demeaning. He particularly highlighted his discomfort with individuals using the trial as a platform to advance their political ambitions.
Romney argued that President Joe Biden should have intervened when the Justice Department brought indictments against Trump. He suggested that Biden missed an opportunity to demonstrate leadership by not pressuring New York prosecutors to drop the case, emphasizing that it could have been a win-win situation for Trump.
Pressed on whether it was Biden’s responsibility to pardon Trump, Romney drew a comparison to former President Lyndon B. Johnson, suggesting that Biden could have exerted influence to prevent the case from proceeding. Romney expressed his belief that Biden should have pardoned Trump immediately after the indictments were announced, portraying it as a strategic move to assert his authority.
Regarding the upcoming debates between Biden and Trump, Romney opined that people have low expectations for Biden but higher expectations for Trump. He likened the potential showdown to characters from “The Muppets,” emphasizing the significance of the debates in shaping public perception of the candidates.
