Utah Governor Reveals Biden Considered Pardoning Trump in 2023

Republican Utah Governor Spencer Cox reveals in a new memoir that former President Joe Biden privately considered pardoning Donald Trump in August 2023, a move that would have represented an extraordinary act of clemency toward his political rival. The disclosure, detailed in Cox's upcoming book "Off Ramp," offers a rare glimpse into Biden's thinking during a period when Trump faced multiple criminal indictments.

According to Cox, the conversation occurred on August 9, 2023, during a presidential visit to Salt Lake City. As the two men rode together in the presidential limousine, Cox suggested that Biden should pardon Trump to help de-escalate partisan tensions. "Mr. President, I know this might sound crazy, but I think you should pardon Donald Trump," Cox recalled telling him.

Biden's response surprised the governor. "You know, I've actually considered this for a while," Biden reportedly said. "In fact, just this week as we were lying in bed, Jill and I had a long conversation about it." Cox wrote that Biden acknowledged people were "demanding justice" for Trump but indicated he was seriously weighing the pardon option.

At the time of their discussion, Trump had recently been...