Joy Behar accuses Gerald Ford of being responsible for a potential Trump pardon.

Joy Behar Blames Gerald Ford for Possible Pardon of Donald Trump

In a lively discussion on The View, Joy Behar pointed fingers at former President Gerald Ford for potentially setting a precedent that could lead to a pardon for former President Donald Trump if he is convicted by federal prosecutors.

Speculation on 2024 Republican Candidates

The hosts of The View delved into the topic of whether potential 2024 Republican candidates would consider pardoning Trump if they were to become president. Behar argued that this discussion is only happening because of Ford’s actions during his presidency.

“The fact that Gerald Ford pardoned Nixon has set the stage for what we’re experiencing right now,” Behar said. “They should not have pardoned him.”

The Nixon Pardon and Watergate Scandal

Behar referred to Ford’s pardon of former President Richard Nixon in 1974, shortly after taking office. Nixon had been involved in illegal activities related to the Watergate scandal, which included an attempt to cover up a burglary at the Democratic National Committee’s headquarters.

Behar reminded the hosts that Nixon’s attorney general, John Mitchell, and his two lieutenants, John Ehrlichman and H.R. Haldeman, all ended up in prison for their roles in the cover-up.

Trump’s Belief in Potential Pardon

Behar explained that Trump may believe he won’t face jail time because of the precedent set by Ford’s pardon of Nixon. She suggested that another Republican could potentially bail him out, such as Vice President Pence, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, or Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

Whoopi Goldberg chimed in, proposing a change to the Constitution to prevent a president from being in jail while in office. Sunny Hostin agreed, emphasizing the need for an amendment.

Trump’s Charges and Plea

Trump was recently arraigned on Tuesday, facing 37 counts from the Department of Justice, including willful retention of national defense information. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

As the discussion on The View highlighted, the potential for a presidential pardon and the implications it carries continue to be a topic of debate.

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