As the legal battle for former President Donald J. Trump continues to escalate, two of his former political allies, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, have both recently pledged to pardon him if he is ultimately convicted of any charges brought against him.
These assurances are just the latest indication of the immense public support the 45th president continues to enjoy despite leaving office earlier this year.
It all started last week when Gov. DeSantis told reporters he would “absolutely” pardon Mr. Trump if the need arose. Not one to be left out, Gov. Haley soon followed up with her own statement.
“If he’s convicted, I’d be the first person in line to pardon him,” she told the Miami Herald.
The statements from both governors are not surprising considering their political loyalty to the former president. Gov. DeSantis gave Mr. Trump his first major political endorsement in 2016 and is now considered one of his staunchest allies. Gov. Haley also endorsed the former president in the 2020 race and appeared to have earned his trust.
While the statements from both governors may be seen as mere posturing, they do illustrate the immense loyalty Mr. Trump still commands among some Republican voters, even after leaving office in disgrace.
It also raises the question of whether a presidential pardon could even be issued in the event of criminal charges. Under the Constitution, a pardon can only be issued for federal crimes; any state-level crimes would have to be pardoned by a state governor.
It remains to be seen if Mr. Trump will face criminal charges, but it is clear that some in the GOP are willing to defend the former president regardless of what may come.
As the legal battle for former President Donald J. Trump continues to escalate, two of his former political allies, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, have both recently pledged to pardon him if he is ultimately convicted of any charges brought against him.
These assurances are just the latest indication of the immense public support the 45th president continues to enjoy despite leaving office earlier this year.
It all started last week when Gov. DeSantis told reporters he would “absolutely” pardon Mr. Trump if the need arose. Not one to be left out, Gov. Haley soon followed up with her own statement.
“If he’s convicted, I’d be the first person in line to pardon him,” she told the Miami Herald.
The statements from both governors are not surprising considering their political loyalty to the former president. Gov. DeSantis gave Mr. Trump his first major political endorsement in 2016 and is now considered one of his staunchest allies. Gov. Haley also endorsed the former president in the 2020 race and appeared to have earned his trust.
While the statements from both governors may be seen as mere posturing, they do illustrate the immense loyalty Mr. Trump still commands among some Republican voters, even after leaving office in disgrace.
It also raises the question of whether a presidential pardon could even be issued in the event of criminal charges. Under the Constitution, a pardon can only be issued for federal crimes; any state-level crimes would have to be pardoned by a state governor.
It remains to be seen if Mr. Trump will face criminal charges, but it is clear that some in the GOP are willing to defend the former president regardless of what may come.
