John Dean, the former White House lawyer who helped bring down President Richard Nixon in the Watergate scandal, urged President Joe Biden to go ahead with the pardon.
Biden on Sunday pardoned son Hunter Biden, who pleaded guilty in June to a gun charge and in September to a tax charge.
The president, who has previously vowed not to forgive his son, has faced criticism from the left and the right over the move. But Dean said he didn’t go far enough ― and urged Mr. Biden to issue a pardon to everyone President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to address when he returns to the White House next month.
The list includes those who investigated Trump ― including Robert Mueller and Jack Smith and their teams ― as well as “everyone on Trump’s enemies list.”
Biden needs to keep going with his pardon: Trump, Jack Smith & team, Mueller & team, and a blanket pardon for everyone on Trump’s enemies list for any and all political statements before December 25, 2024! Merry christmas:-). Clear the air on replacement/replacement!
– John W Dean (@johnwdean.bsky.social)2024-12-02T02:37:58.073Z
Trump has repeatedly spoken of retribution and revenge and, in the spring, threatened prisoners he accused of “inhumane behavior.”
Others disagreed with Dean, saying Mr. Trump should be among those pardoned. He responded that Trump would never be impeached and that Smith’s statement “will go down in history.”
He also added that the list of those who will receive amnesty should include everyone on the January 6 committee, who Mr. Trump said should be thrown in prison, as well as former Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and a retired Army General. Mark Milley, the former chairman of the joint chiefs of staff whom Trump accused of “treasonous acts,” along with many others.
Not everyone is on board with this idea, differences have been shared by some on social media.
Former U.S. Attorney Randall Eliason wrote:
The problem with excusing Smith and his team is that they did nothing wrong. To suggest even a chance they might have and forgive them would be to tarnish their honor and reputation. Regardless of the hell they may be facing, I bet they don’t like it.
– Randall Eliason (@rdeliason.bsky.social)2024-12-02T03:20:31.064Z
Dean was once called the “master manipulator” of the Watergate scandal by the FBI before he turned Nixon, setting the stage for the president’s resignation.