A House Democrat who previously challenged President Biden in a primary election called on New York Gov. Kathy Hockal to pardon former President Donald Trump in the “national interest,” arguing that his conviction would only benefit the campaigns of convicted Republican candidates.
“Donald Trump is a habitual liar, cheater, cheater, a six-time corporate bankruptcy declarer, instigator of insurrection and a convicted felon who survives by portraying himself as the victim,” said Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.). I wrote in the post on Friday to X. “@GovKathyHochul should pardon him for the good of the country.”
In a follow-up social media post on Saturday, Phillips writes: “Do you think a pardon would be foolish? Making him a martyr for bribing a porn star is foolish (the election charges are entirely separate).”
“This activity will energize his base, generate record amounts of campaign cash and likely lead to an election victory,” Phillips added.
Trump turns criminal convictions into cash, eyes record fundraising after conviction
Rep. Dean Phillips, President Biden’s former primary opponent, called on New York Governor Kathy Hockle to pardon former President Donald Trump in the “national interest.” (Getty Images)
Phillips’ comments about the “record” fundraising came after the Trump campaign announced Friday night that it had raised about $53 million in the 24 hours after Trump was convicted of all 34 felony counts in his criminal trial in New York City.
The campaign said it raised $34.8 million between 6 p.m. and midnight on Thursday, shortly after the verdict was made public, Fox News Digital reported.
The campaign touted the fundraiser as “nearly double the largest day ever recorded by the Trump campaign on the WinRed platform” and stressed that the conviction “awakened the MAGA movement like never before.”
Hawkle’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital about Phillips’ pardon petition.
After Trump’s conviction, Biden openly defies Supreme Court ruling but calls for respect for legal system
Phillips unsuccessfully challenged Biden in the primary in October and dropped out of the race in March. (Getty Images)
“I think the New York lawsuit may have backfired for some people who thought it was going to be a relief, but I don’t think the New York lawsuit had the outcome Democrats were hoping for,” Phillips told CNN’s Manu Raju.
Phillips, who unsuccessfully challenged Biden in the primary in October, dropped out of the race in March, saying, “It’s clear that Joe Biden is our nominee, and this is our chance to show what kind of country America is and what kind of country we want to be.”
“I ask you to join me in mobilizing, energizing and doing everything we can to keep someone with decency and integrity in the White House, and that’s Joe Biden,” he added at the time.
Trump has been trying to close the fundraising gap with Biden, and in April, his campaign and the Republican National Committee outraised Biden’s campaign and the Democratic National Committee for the first time.
Trump has been trying to close the fundraising gap with Biden, and in April, his campaign and the Republican National Committee outraised Biden’s campaign and the Democratic National Committee for the first time. (Getty Images)
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Trump is stepping up his fundraising efforts, The Biden campaign still held a cash advantage of $84 million to $49 million as of the end of April.
Fox News’ Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.
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