The defense attorney for Lindsay Clancy is calling on President Donald Trump to consider pardoning his client following a mistrial in her high-profile Massachusetts murder case.
Kevin Reddington made the request Tuesday during an interview with George Stephanopoulos on ABC’s 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 you would consider this young lady, the type of person she is, what she’s been through and consider a pardon,” Reddington said.
Trump had previously commented on the case following Friday’s mistrial, saying he had been following the proceedings and suggesting another trial could take place.
“It’s a shame,” Trump said, describing the case as “a horrible tragedy.” He said he assumed there would be another trial following the hung jury and called it “a terrible situation.”
“Look, she did a horrible, horrible thing. Can’t be worse, but you’ll find out what the price to pay is,” Trump said, referring to the possibility of Clancy being sent to “a mental institution or jail.” He added, “But I guess they gotta go through another trial. It’s too bad.”
However, a presidential pardon would not apply to Clancy’s case because the charges against her are state crimes. The president’s pardon power extends to federal offenses, not crimes prosecuted by state or local authorities.
Reddington Open to Possible Deal
During Tuesday’s interview, Reddington also addressed several other issues surrounding the trial, including his previous criticism of Plymouth District Attorney Timothy Cruz.
After the trial ended, Reddington said he had “crushed” the prosecution. On Tuesday, he appeared to soften that characterization, calling it “bravado.”
“That’s after the fact, emotions run high,” Reddington said. “I’d just finished a 6-7 week trial. I think the defense was very strong. Perhaps I could have been more circumspect with Tim Cruz. Instead of saying I crushed him, I could’ve said, ‘I did a good job.'”
Reddington said he would also be willing to hear Cruz out if the district attorney’s office is interested in discussing a potential resolution.
“I’m willing to listen to Tim. I’ve known Tim for 30 years. He’s a very hard charging prosecutor, conservative gentleman,” Reddington said. “I hope, however, after sitting through this trial and seeing the evidence that was presented from the government as well as the defense, that he would revisit that issue and hopefully we’d be able to work something out that would be acceptable to both sides.”
Reddington Defends Clancy’s Character
Reddington also spoke at length about Clancy’s character, describing her as intelligent and hardworking.
He called her “a wonderful neighbor, friend, wife and mother… just an incredible person” and said he feels a strong bond with her because of the type of person she is.
Reddington also said he believes the jury’s final 11-1 split favored a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity.
Regarding the lone holdout juror, Reddington said he respected the juror’s right to disagree but took issue with what he described as the juror acknowledging reasonable doubt while declining to apply the judge’s instructions regarding the legal standard.
“That’s not right and that’s why I was upset,” Reddington said.
