Why McCarthy's reference to a possible Pence pardon stands out [View all]

[Nevilledog]

Link to tweet

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/mccarthys-reference-possible-pence-pardon-stands-rcna25606?cid=sm_npd_ms_tw_ma

*snip*

McCarthy added, “Now, this is one personal fear I have. I do not want to get in any conversations about Pence pardoning. Again, the only discussion I would have with [the then-president] is that I think this [impeachment resolution] will pass. And it would be my recommendation that you should resign.”

Part of what made this so notable is that McCarthy and his office explicitly argued yesterday that he did not say what the audio recording clearly showed him saying about encouraging Trump to resign. But let’s not brush past the sentence that preceded this: The minority leader referenced possible conversations with then-Vice President Mike Pence about a pardon?

Politico reported this morning:

McCarthy’s reference to a Pence pardon adds credence to the speculation that Trump might have willingly stepped down early, on the condition that then-Vice President Mike Pence pardon him for any potential criminal acts. That McCarthy thought this was a subject Trump might bring up raises questions about the GOP leader’s belief that criminal acts may have been committed.

This did not escape the attention of the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack.

On the contrary, Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin, a member of the bipartisan panel, told The Washington Post’s Greg Sargent this morning, “It just seems clear that McCarthy, like other members who lived through these events, understood that Donald Trump had committed grave crimes against the Union.”

*snip*