Key Takeaways:
– Ty Cobb, former White House attorney under Trump, criticized his pardon vows for the January 6 rioters.
– Trump had in the past used his pardon power for friends and allies who faced charges linked to the Russia probe.
– Mike Pence, the former vice president, sided with Cobb in discouraging Trump from such pardons.
– Trump’s potential pardons for the insurgents is raising alarm, as he labels them ‘hostages’.
– Cobb warned that such actions tarnish America’s rule of law and world reputation.
The Unconditional Pardon Alarm
Ty Cobb, a once trusted White House attorney for Donald Trump, recently lambasted the former president for his stated intent to pardon all January 6 stormers of the Capitol. If Trump reassumes office next year, his repeated reassurances that he will grant clemency to these individuals have drawn widespread ire.
The Pardon History
During his previous term, Trump notoriously used his pardon powers to liberate friends, allies, and accomplices who went to jail due to their ties in the Russia investigation. Cobb makes it clear that Trump’s potential pardon spree is not solely from a present request by the January 6 rioters. Prominent public figures like the former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, who’s serving time for public corruption, are hypothetically on Trump’s pardon list.
The Pence Position
On this contentious topic, former Vice President Mike Pence issued a rather forthright statement against Trump’s anticipated pardons. Given that these are people who threatened his very life on the day of the riot, his public denouncement is perceivable. Pence has advised Trump not to offer clemency to anyone who attacked a police officer at the Capitol on January 6.
Trump’s Hostage Narrative
In spite of Pence’s words, Trump remains adamant about his upcoming pardon scheme. He has even gone as far as to label the January 6 insurgents as ‘hostages’ on his social media platforms. The cloud of uncertainty still floats around Trump’s actions, with many wondering about the real likelihood that he will execute his pledge.
Ty Cobb’s Warning
Ty Cobb does not hesitate to voice his criticism of Trump’s approach to the rule of law. This resistance is not new. Cobb has previously criticized Trump and continues to do so. He opined that another round of unwarranted pardons by Trump would have international repercussions. This, in his view, could diminish the United States’ standing in the world, likening it to a third-world nation or South American dictatorship.
Cobb asserts that granting pardons to these individuals would be a tragedy that would further erode the rule of law. His anticipation is that this move will not go unnoticed around the world. It’s an act of lawlessness on a grand scale, he claims, driven solely by Trump’s whims, without any principle to back it.
In Conclusion
The potential pardon spree Trump intends to stage is raising concerns for the rule of law and global reputation of the United States. The voices opposing this move are loud and persistent, warning of the potential harm such unhindered abuse of presidential powers could cause. Trump’s future actions concerning these pardons may very well define his legacy for better or worse.