A.G. Gancarski
Ron DeSantis is betting that Iowans will be interested in vacating convictions for people who believe their guilt was determined by the whims of the “ruling elite.”
During remarks Sunday in Eldridge, Iowa, the 2024 Republican presidential candidate floated the idea of “clemency” for people on the right who were convicted by judges and juries that don’t share their ideological leans.
“There needs to be one standard of justice in this country. And so if somebody is prosecuted or has been convicted and they can show that they were treated (disfavorably) because they’re in a faction of society that the ruling elites don’t like, then I think they would be eligible to potentially get clemency and get some relief,” DeSantis said.
The Governor believes “the question is, is if you have a very left wing judge and a woke judge, how do you protect people against that?
“And particularly, I think when you’re in DC, because DC is a brutal, brutal jurisdiction, the jury pool is very, very left wing and it’s just not fair for a conservative to be in front of that,” DeSantis contended.
The Governor said anti-abortionists were especially victimized by juries of their peers, while civil rights activists lacked the same threshold.
“For example, you know, (Black Lives Matter) burned down cities. A lot of them didn’t even get prosecuted at all or were given a slap on the wrist,” he said. “And yet you have other people who are pro-life demonstrators or things like that and they’re just getting a ton of bricks thrown at them. So that’s a huge, huge problem when you do that.”
The Governor has blasted juries in the nation’s capital before.
He told Fox News viewers DC residents would convict a “ham sandwich” if it were Republican, adding that one potential cure would be to import jurors from across the country in cases where the Nation’s Capital were a trial venue, as will be the case when Donald Trump faces charges related to the Jan. 6, 2021, riot.
“A DC jury would indict a ham sandwich and convict a ham sandwich if it was a Republican ham sandwich,” DeSantis said during an interview on an August “Faulkner Focus.“
“I think Americans need to be able to remove cases out of D.C. I think the juries are stacked. I think that they’re going to want to convict people that they disagree with. Or, at minimum, you should be able to draw a jury pool from across the entire country,” DeSantis added.
“I do, though, believe we need to enact reforms so that Americans have the right to remove cases from Washington, DC, to their home districts. Washington, DC, is a ‘swamp’ and it is unfair to have to stand trial before a jury that is reflective of the swamp mentality.”
Washington is the venue for the trial because Trump is accused of attempting to subvert the 2020 election and the transition to the Joe Biden presidency there. The former President is accused of conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights.
DeSantis has also floated “Day 1” pardons of the former President and those who participated in storming the Capitol when Congress was certifying the Presidential Election results.
21 comments
Joe
December 3, 2023 at 4:14 pm
The party of “Rule of Law,” ladies and gentlemen!
Lol what a joke these Republicans are, Tiny D especially.
Jay Smif
December 4, 2023 at 11:23 am
EXACTLY – and what “cities were burned down?” Waiting for ONE example of a city that was burned to ashes.
Aggie
December 3, 2023 at 4:22 pm
So I’m sure if a liberal feels their right wing judge was unfair they’ll have that same option, right? For someone who has a law degree he really doesn’t seem to understand the judicial system. Either that or he’s so desperate at this point he’ll say anything. What a fool.
John Lentini
December 3, 2023 at 4:33 pm
Conservatives who don’t like the DC jury pool should avoid committing crimes in DC.
Silly Wabbit
December 4, 2023 at 10:20 am
Twue that.
He’s a Lunatic
December 3, 2023 at 4:44 pm
Another example of post-constitutional Republican insanity.
PeterH
December 3, 2023 at 6:21 pm
There are very few conservatives left in today’s GQP ….. and Ron …… you’re not one of them!
Elmo
December 3, 2023 at 7:07 pm
Reality Detachment Syndrome
Michael K
December 3, 2023 at 9:15 pm
Who cares. He’s toast. Bu bye.
WhatNow
December 3, 2023 at 9:26 pm
Ah… the race among GOPers to see who can become the most anti-American the quickest continues…
My Take
December 3, 2023 at 11:41 pm
Imagine a young black man defendant in a red state.
Sonja Fitch
December 4, 2023 at 6:30 am
WTF. Does this hairbrain, Desantis, have any NORMAL problems, health care,economy, that Desantis is trying willingly to make better? NO!!!! Desantis is a damn, disgusting idiot! Ask Floridians about Desantis responses to hurricanes and home owner insurance! Desantis only does and says what Desantis feels! Maybe we ought to have a hearing , like Santos, and for the liar Desantis!
Tom
December 4, 2023 at 7:11 am
As desperation sets in, the stupidity becomes more palpable. I get the bit where he was a lawyer but based on his statements and the amount of legislation that the courts overturn, he must have been lousy at it.
Lex
December 4, 2023 at 8:26 am
Politics should not invade criminal law. That is easier said than done, but the criminal attacks on Trump are just that, political nonsense. If Trump were smart he would have fast-tracked a case to the Supreme Court on the lot of them as election interference.
Question for Lex
December 4, 2023 at 10:18 am
Could you explain what you are talking about? Be specific. What “criminal attacks on Trump,” for example. And who are “the lot of them.”
MH/Duuuval
December 4, 2023 at 3:45 pm
So, Trump never asked the GA Secretary of State to “find” some 11k votes in 2020? That’s criminal — not political: suborning elections.
John L
December 4, 2023 at 9:50 am
This could be the dumbest idea the book burner ever came up with. Pandering to the right wing crazies. But no need to worry. He is down 40 points in his home state to Trump. All hot air and no need to care because he will never sniff the nomination let alone presidency
Silly Wabbit
December 4, 2023 at 10:19 am
DeSantis kwazy.
DeSantisCantHandleHeels
December 4, 2023 at 10:34 am
Oh dear. DeSantis wasn’t satisfied with burning books. Now he wants to burn down the justice system. This idea would never work and he’s just throwing poo, like a hypothetical war with the Bahamas, to see what sticks. It’s actually quite pathetic.
Dr. Franklin Waters
December 4, 2023 at 10:49 am
I’m starting to believe those mental illness rumors.
Bwj
December 4, 2023 at 8:09 pm
Exactly. Are liberals going to get the opportunity? How about a black man in front of an all white jury?
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