Trump Rival on CNN Promising Pardon For Crimes — Even If He’s Guilty — Insists Trump Pardon ‘Not About Guilt or Innocence’

Former Ambassador and current Trump rival Nikki Haley explained her promise to pardon former President Donald Trump for crimes — even if he’s found guilty — by insisting to CNN that the pardon is “not about guilt or innocence.”

In addition to dozens of state felonies, Trump faces 37 counts stemming from Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into his retention of classified documents under the Espionage Act; a superseding indictment by Smith on three additional charges against Trump (one additional count of unlawful retention of National Defense Information and two new obstruction counts); and Trump’s indictment for his attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election on charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of an attempt to obstruct an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights.

At a CNN town hall event Thursday night, Haley explained her promise to pardon Trump — even insisting she would only do so if he’s found guilty — by claiming “it’s not about guilt or innocence”:

BURNETT: Kathryn Duffy is a professor of music here at Grand View, and it’s been great to be here these past couple of days in your school. A Republican from Ankeny who says that she supports you. Katherine, go ahead.

HALEY: Hi, Kathryn.

KATHERINE DUFFY, MUSIC PROFESSOR: Thank you for being here —

HALEY: Of course.

DUFFY: — Ambassador Haley. Could you please explain to us your rationale for pardoning Mr. Trump when he’s been associated with so much division and chaos in our country?

HALEY: When you talk about a pardon, the person has already been found guilty. You know, when it comes to President Trump, he still has to face and we’ll find out whether he’s guilty or not. But if we’re talking about a pardon let’s — you’re assuming he’s guilty because nobody gets pardoned if you’re not guilty.

For me, it’s not about guilt or innocence. It’s about what’s in the best interest for the country. And I don’t think our country will move forward with an 80-year -old president sitting in jail that allows our country to continue to be divided. We have to move on past that. And so I honestly do believe, just like

they did with Nixon, you’ve got to say what’s in the best interest of the country. And I think pardoning Trump and moving on is in the best interest of our country if we’re going to heal and if we’re going to get back together, and get out of the chaos.

Watch above via CNN.