Sen. Richard Blumenthal spoke out “strongly against” preemptive pardons, saying they would look like admissions of guilt.
The discussion comes after President-elect Donald Trump said over the weekend that members of the committee that looked into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol “should go to jail.” Some Democrats have called for President Biden to issue preemptive pardons against those who may be targeted the most by Mr. Trump once he takes office.
“I strongly oppose preemptive pardons,” Mr. Blumenthal, Connecticut Democrat, said on CNN Wednesday. “First of all, in some ways it’s going to be perceived as an implicit acknowledgment of guilt.”
Citing his law experience, he said, “I know and people should know that walking into a courtroom and making charges is far from proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.”
He added, “There is no evidence of wrongdoing against those members of the Jan. 6 committees who brought those impeachment articles or who prosecuted them. And the likely beneficiaries of preemptive pardons would be the top echelon, and the underlings would still have the fear of that kind of prosecution.”
Two members of the Jan. 6 committee who have been floated as possible receivers of preemptive pardons are former Rep. Liz Cheney, Wyoming Republican, and Sen.-elect Adam Schiff, California Democrat.
“Let’s have faith in the criminal justice system and the standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt,” he said. “I think any such unfounded, unjust charges against people who simply did their jobs would ultimately cause a backlash against Donald Trump because there will be acquittals, and the costs of their defense or investigation, I think, should be borne by a defense fund.”
He said he would contribute pro bono legal counsel because he thinks “they are on the right side.”
“We ought to make these cases a test case for the principle of justice,” he said.
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.
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