The mere suggestion that outgoing President Joe Biden might issue a preemptive pardon for Hillary Clinton has set off a political firestorm.
Former President Bill Clinton floated the idea during an appearance on The View, claiming that his wife, Hillary, hadn’t done anything wrong but might still need protection from what Democrats fear will be an aggressive Trump administration and its incoming FBI Director Kash Patel. The irony is palpable: why even mention a pardon for someone supposedly innocent of wrongdoing?
Hillary Clinton’s private email server has haunted her political legacy since it first came to light. Despite claims that she followed the rules, a federal investigation concluded otherwise, noting her use of a private server to transmit government emails—some of which were classified—put national security at risk. While James Comey, then FBI Director, infamously called her actions “extremely careless,” he stopped short of recommending charges. This decision still stirs debate about whether Clinton received preferential treatment.
Bill Clinton tells The View that he’s open to Hillary getting a preemptive pardon from Joe Biden.
Many Democrats are terrified now because they know they’re criminals.
They know they abused their power to persecute conservatives.
Dems fear justice.pic.twitter.com/62zaLyKYg1
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) December 11, 2024
Adding to the controversy was Clinton’s deletion of tens of thousands of emails deemed “personal,” sparking widespread skepticism. The incomplete nature of the evidence, compounded by concerns over the Clinton Foundation’s murky ties to foreign governments, has kept speculation alive. Trump himself seized on these issues during his first presidential campaign and hasn’t let go since, famously nicknaming her “Crooked Hillary.”
Bill Clinton’s remarks raise a glaring question: why bring up a pardon if Hillary has, as he insists, “done nothing wrong”? Preemptive pardons are rare and carry heavy implications. Even Clinton’s Democratic allies, like The View’s Joy Behar, pointed out that a pardon could be perceived as an admission of guilt. Bill Clinton dismissed this notion, but the optics are hard to ignore.
If issued, such a pardon would likely ignite outrage among Republicans and reinforce the belief that high-ranking Democrats receive special treatment. Moreover, it would hand incoming FBI Director Kash Patel yet another justification to dig deeper into the Clinton Foundation and related controversies, possibly fueling a broader investigation into Democratic misdeeds under the Biden administration.
Trump, never one to miss an opportunity, responded forcefully to Clinton’s remarks. Highlighting the Clinton Foundation’s questionable ties to foreign entities, he reiterated a demand for accountability. “Crooked Hillary says we must call on Saudi Arabia and other countries to stop funding hate. I am calling on her to immediately return the $25 million plus she got from them for the Clinton Foundation!” While Politico couldn’t confirm Trump’s specific claims, it also didn’t refute them, leaving the door open for continued scrutiny.
The idea of pardoning Hillary Clinton reveals the fear simmering within Democratic ranks. With Trump poised to take office and Patel preparing to reshape the FBI, Democrats are bracing for investigations into allegations of corruption, misuse of power, and favoritism that defined the Biden-Harris administration. A pardon for Clinton could be seen as a preemptive move to shield her from such inquiries but risks backfiring politically by reinforcing perceptions of guilt.
