Lindsay Clancy’s lawyer has urged President Donald Trump to pardon her, marking the first public comment from the defense since the recent outcome of her murder case. This followed a lengthy 38-hour jury deliberation at Plymouth Superior Court in Massachusetts, after which a mistrial was declared on September 4, when the jury could not reach a consensus on the verdict. The judge made this call despite a last-minute plea for an emergency stay from Clancy’s attorney.
On Tuesday, Kevin Reddington, Clancy’s defense attorney, publicly appealed to Trump during an interview on “Good Morning America.”
“I’d like to say that perhaps Donald Trump, who felt compelled to speak out on this case. Mr. President, I would hope that you would consider this young lady,” he expressed. “The type of person she is, what she has been through, and consider a pardon.”
However, it’s important to note that seeking a presidential pardon is unlikely to succeed, as federal pardons do not extend to convictions at the state level. The power to grant a pardon rests solely with Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, who has not suggested any intention to consider such an action.
That said, some speculate that Reddington’s comments might be a strategic move to draw attention to Clancy’s case and possibly encourage local authorities, including the district attorney, to reconsider the charges to avoid a challenging retrial.
Alternatively, reaching out to Trump on national television could be seen as an attempt to reignite public interest and maintain pressure on prosecutors.
Reacting to the mistrial announcement, President Trump described the situation as a “terrible situation” and a “horrible tragedy.” He commented on the trial’s heavy media coverage, stating, “It’s on television so much, it’s hard not to follow it.”
“Look, she did a horrible, horrible thing,” Trump remarked regarding Clancy. “Can’t be worse. But you’ll find out what the price to pay is. There’ll be a price. It’s going to be mental institution or jail or something.”
The president also noted that another trial could be on the horizon, which he expressed as “too bad.”
Reddington shared that he hopes to come to an agreement with Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz, suggesting that Clancy may be amenable to a plea deal.
“He’s a very hard-charging prosecutor, a conservative gentleman,” Reddington mentioned regarding Cruz. “I hope however after sitting through this trial and seeing the evidence that was presented from the government as well as from the defense, that he would revisit that issue and hopefully would be able to work something out that would be acceptable to both sides.”
Clancy, who is 36 years old, faces serious charges including first-degree murder, three counts of strangulation or suffocation, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon related to the deaths of her three young children in 2023. While she has confessed to the act of strangling her children, she maintains a plea of not guilty, arguing that her mental state, due to being overmedicated with psychiatric medications and experiencing postpartum psychosis, should exempt her from criminal liability. This case has sparked a national conversation about accountability in the context of severe mental health crises.
A status hearing has been scheduled for September 29 to discuss the possible next steps regarding a retrial.
