(Screengrab via CNN)
Democrats went on the offensive Wednesday night during a discussion on CNN about whether President Joe Biden ought to preemptively issue pardons to possible targets of President-elect Donald Trump, who has vowed to seek retribution once he takes office.
When anchor Abby Phillip asked whether it would be a good idea for Biden to issue pre-emptive pardons, Democratic strategist Chuck Rocha gave a full-throated endorsement.
"I think so. Democrats: Lean into it," he said. "I promise you Donald Trump's going to pardon everybody."
He listed off prominent names who have received pardons, including Steve Bannon, Paul Manafort, Roger Stone and Charles Kushner.
"If you get pardoned by him you could become the ambassador to France evidently as well," he joked, poking fun at Trump's nomination of Kushner. "Democrats: In all seriousness, I'm tired of the pearl-clutching of, 'We're better than that. We can't do all that.' If he's going to do it, let's make sure we do it as well because we're going to be there at the end having to make up all this other stuff."
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Fellow Democratic strategist Julie Roginsky agreed, noting an "unprecedented" group of people are coming into the White House.
"Even if they don't indict you, they can investigate you into bankruptcy. Torture you with FBI investigations. Kash Patel is evidently going to be our next FBI director. Is that what you want to be dealing with the rest of your life?"
Roginsky later said "Amen" to Rocha's suggestion.
"They have already said they are going to come after these people," she said, adding she, too, is "tired of the pearl-clutching."
Rocha jumped in before fellow Republican panelists could offer their opinions, and publicly said he, too, would accept a pardon.
"Just for the record, if they're handing out pardons, I'll take one," he said. "I talk a lot of trash on TV. I don't know if you've seen me. I could take a pardon."
"I'll take one too," said Roginsky.
Watch the clip below or at this link.
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