Michigan Gov Whitmer says Trump told her that he wouldn't pardon convicted kidnap plotters
"I think anything short of condemning political violence does a disservice to everyone," Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says President Trump told her that he would not pardon those who were convicted of plotting to kidnap her in 2020, after he publically mused Thursaday of doing such.
Whitmer's comments from a Michigan Public Radio interview released Thursday follow Trump telling reporters on Wednesday that he will look into pardoning people who were convicted of plotting to kidnap her.
A total of 14 men were charged in the plot, five of whom were cleared by state and federal courts and nine were convicted, including the two alleged leaders, Adam Fox and Barry Croft, Jr.
“I will look at it – take a look at it,” Trump said. “It’s been brought to my attention, I did watch the trial. It looked to me like somewhat of a railroad job, I’ll be honest with you. It looked to me like some people said some stupid things.
“They were drinking. And I think they said stupid things. But I’ll take a look at that, and a lot of people are asking me that question from both sides actually,” he continued. “A lot of people think they got railroaded.”
Whitmer pushed back on Trump's comments.
"Well, I think anything short of condemning political violence does a disservice to everyone," Whitmer said. "I'll be honest with you, I talked to the President about a month ago and he asked me how I'd feel about this and I said I think it would be the wrong decision. I would oppose it and he said, 'okay, I'll drop it.' Now, we see this revelation. So, I'm not sure how to process it.
"I will just point out that when the man shot at the President when he was on the campaign trail in Pennsylvania, I was one of the first officeholders on either side of the aisle to condemn it," she continued. "Because anything short of condemnation creates a dangerous space for people that are sworn an oath to do the work of the public.
"We don't take up arms and harm one another. And so, I'm going to make my thoughts on this known to the White House again. And I hope that it's not an action that they take."
Whitmer added that she "will be reaching out" to Trump "over the weekend."