In an interview with BBC News to promote his new book Saving Justice, former FBI director James Comey said President-elect Joe Biden should “consider” forgiving his predecessor Donald Trump when he takes office on January 20.
Asked if Biden should accept a page from Gerald Ford, who forgave Richard Nixon in 1974, Comey replied: “I don’t know. He must consider this. “Although he said he was not sure that Trump – who supposedly suggested the idea of forgiving himself – would accept such a forgiveness, he added:” As part of the country’s healing and taking us to a place where we can focus on the things that are going to important in the next four years, I think Joe Biden will have to at least think about it.
Of course, a presidential pardon would only protect Trump from federal charges and not from the many state crimes for which he is currently under investigation.