The View’s Meghan McCain sparred with Rep. Matt Gaetz over whether President Trump should pardon Roger Stone.
Stone, a longtime confidant to Trump, was found guilty in November on five separate counts of lying to the House Intelligence Committee in its investigation into Russian election interference, one count that he “corruptly influenced, obstructed, and impeded” the investigation, and another for attempting to “corruptly persuade” a witness’s testimony.
Gaetz, who appeared on the show Thursday as Stone’s sentencing hearing was unfolding, stated that he believed Trump should pardon the self-proclaimed “dirty trickster,” which prompted McCain to exclaim, “Oh, come on, congressman! Come on, come on. He’s the swampiest swamp creature.”
The Florida Republican then brought up the number of pardons former Presidents Barack Obama and President Bill Clinton gave — more than 1,700 and 450, respectively.
When asked if the president’s pardon powers should be curbed, Gaetz answered, “In Federalist 74, Alexander Hamilton writes that the reason we have the pardon power is to serve as a check on the criminal justice system, which if allowed to run wild could create a great sense of sanguinity in our country. … If you look at the original intent of the pardon power, it cannot be limited.”
He went on to say that Trump should grant Stone a pardon “if for no other reason [than] that there’s been a double standard in this country where people like Peter Strzok, Lisa Page, Andrew McCabe, [James] Clapper, and [John] Brennan have not faced consequences.”
The Department of Justice initially recommended a sentence of seven to nine years in prison but later announced it would scale back the recommendation for a more lenient sentence. The intervention led to the resignation of four Stone prosecutors, including former members of special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation.
After The View wrapped up, a judge sentenced Stone to more than three years in prison.
[Opinion: Roger Stone does not deserve a presidential pardon]
