In a surprising turn of events, Democratic Representative Dean Phillips of Minnesota has urged New York's Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul to pardon Donald Trump, the likely Republican presidential candidate for 2024.
This plea comes in the wake of Trump's conviction on all 34 counts in a case of falsified business records, a verdict delivered by a jury in the predominantly Democratic Manhattan district.
Phillips took to social media to express his views, directly appealing to Governor Hochul to pardon Trump "for the good of the country." In his post, Phillips described Trump as a "serial liar, cheater and philanderer," a six-time corporate bankruptcy declarer, an instigator of insurrection, and a convicted felon. Despite these labels, Phillips believes that a pardon would serve the nation's best interests.
Phillips further argued that making Trump a martyr over a payment to an adult film star was counterproductive. He suggested that such actions were only serving to energize Trump's base, leading to record-breaking campaign fundraising and potentially providing an electoral boost.
Indeed, Trump's campaign announced a significant fundraising haul of $54.8 million by late Friday, suggesting that the conviction may have inadvertently benefited the Republican candidate. As Democrats and left-leaning media outlets label Trump a "convicted felon," the former president has successfully rallied support by portraying himself as a "political prisoner."
However, Governor Hochul seems to have dismissed the idea of pardoning Trump. In a statement released on Thursday, she expressed her support for the verdict, emphasizing that no one is above the law and that her administration is committed to protecting the safety of all New Yorkers and the integrity of the judicial system.
Phillips is not alone in his call for a pardon. Republican Representative Nick LaLota of New York's 1st Congressional district also took to social media, suggesting that the most effective way to reverse Trump's conviction would be for Governor Hochul to announce her intention to pardon the former president.
Phillips, who suspended his own 2024 presidential campaign in early March after President Joe Biden's sweeping victory in all Super Tuesday states, continues to make headlines with his unexpected stance on Trump's conviction.
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