Trump should pardon Hillary

Time to pardon Hillary Clinton. The Right, of course, will be massively opposed, because it has never had a punching bag they liked more than Hillary, and doesn’t want to see its biggest fundraising tool vanish. Many on the Left likely would not welcome a pardon either, because their arch-nemesis would be the one bestowing compassion on their beloved hero.

Given that a pardon would be met with gasps from both sides, that must mean it’s the right thing to do.

This has nothing to do with politics, and everything to do with the bigger picture of the “greater good.” If we – especially conservatives whose very existence is to conserve that greater good – don’t seriously consider such things, then we’ll never break the cycle of ultra-partisanship that has been eating away at our nation.

While Clinton clearly mishandled classified information by using a private email and server for Secretary of State business, convicting her of those violations is not the slam dunk some Republicans believe. Additionally, the time and money expended would not merit the potentially insignificant penalty Clinton could incur. And let’s not forget that the case has already been investigated by the FBI.

Yes, former bureau Director Jim Comey made an unforgivable mis-take related to that investigation. He bowed to political pressure from then-Attorney General Loretta Lynch by announcing that the FBI was not recommending charges against Hillary. This is not the bureau’s job – never has been, never will be. The FBI’s role is to investigate, and present its findings to the Justice Department. Period. In overstepping his bounds, Comey should have been fired. But, Comey’s misconduct notwithstanding, that doesn’t mean that the FBI’s investigation was compromised.

Regarding possible pay-to-play activities with the Clinton Foundation, two words: Forget it. Proving pay-to-play at the state and federal levels is hard enough, but is damn-near impossible when the scope includes international components. Many Clinton Foundation donors are foreign nationals, diplomats, and governments. Translation: There is no motivation whatsoever for any of them to talk with FBI agents possessing zero enforcement power. And even if, by chance, some evidence was discovered, prosecuting such a case would be expensive and excruciatingly difficult.

You fight the battles worth fighting, but you also fight the battles you can win.

Despite the difficulties in prov-ing Hillary’s guilt, there remains a chunk of the electorate that is following the lead of Republican firebrands calling for more investigations. That is a boon for GOP fundraising heading into an election year, but accomplishes nothing on the policy agenda, and serves only to further divide the nation.

If pardoning a politician past her prime allows Washington, and America, to work more closely together, then nothing could be more presidential.

No one in America should be “above the law,” especially our top political figures. The fact that we strive for accountability for all, and not just some, is what separates us from dictatorships and banana republics.

And that is why advocating a pardon is not an easy position to take. There is merit in stating that if Hillary Clinton broke the law, she should be prosecuted, just as anyone else. It shouldn’t matter that she was a presidential candidate, First Lady, U.S. senator, or Secretary of State. Being part of the political elite does not entitle one to disregard laws, nor should it shield her from prosecution.

But that’s not what pardoning Hillary would be.

A pardon would not be somuch for Hillary, as it would be for the country’s “greater good.” Pardoning Hillary is not the perfect option, but let’s not forget that our justice system, while the best in the world, isn’t perfect. Most of all, let’s not forget that presidential pardons aren’t new. Every president utilizes that power, with thousands having had their slates wiped clean over the years.

Life isn’t always fair. Richard Nixon, in an incredibly selfless act borne out of his belief of what was best for America, allowed the criminals who stole the 1960 election fromhim (due to voter fraud in Chicago and Texas) to go uninvestigated, and thus, unpunished. Likewise, President Gerald Ford, knowing his prospects for re-election would likely be irreparably damaged if he pardoned Nixon, nonetheless did the right thing by allowing his predecessor to fade away, sparing thenation the spectacle of a president on trial.

Pardon me for being presumptuous, Mr. President, but the best way for you to turn around your ailing presidency is to make Hillary Clinton an offer she can’t refuse.

Chris Freind Columnist