ABC News’ Jonathan Karl interviewed House Speaker Mike Johnson on ABC’s This Week, and it was a doozy. Karl asked about Trump commuting George Santos’s prison time. What wasn’t asked in the interview was why it’s OK that Trump’s actions now mean that Santos does not have to pay back $400,000 from the people and institutions he defrauded.
“The president has the right under the Constitution for pardon and commutation, of course,” Johnson said. “We believe in redemption. This is a personal belief of mine.”
“And I hope Mr. Santos makes the most of his second chance,” he continued.
“But how about the fact that the president, in issuing the pardon, or it’s a clemency, I’m sorry, the clemency, he said at least Santos had the courage, conviction, and intelligence to always vote Republican,” Karl shot back. “I looked through this. There have now, I think we have a list of them, 10 former Republican members of Congress who the president has either pardoned or issued clemency for, 10.”
“Okay, you want to talk about what Joe Biden did with that power?” Johnson asked.
“No, I want to talk about what..” Karl said.
