The Rev. Jesse Jackson speaking at the University of Michigan on November 16, 2016 said that President Obama should preemptively pardon Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton for any crimes she may have committed.
"Secretary Clinton has not been legally accused, indicted, tried or convicted of anything," he said of the former secretary of State. "It would be a monumental, moral and political mistake to pursue the prosecution of Hillary Clinton.
"President Obama should follow President Ford's example and offer a preemptive full pardon," Jackson added, referencing former President Gerald Ford's pardon of Former President Richard Nixon in 1974.
President-elect Donald Trump repeatedly vowed during the campaign that he would appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Clinton and "Lock Her Up" was a frequent and motivating chant at his rallies.
The GOP presidential candidate shook the soul of American Democracy during the 2nd Presidential Debate when he threatened his political opponent with the words "Because you'd be in Jail" if he oversaw the criminal justice system.
Lt. General Michael Flynn, who is likely Trump Secretary of Defense led the "Lock Her Up" chants at the Republican Convention.
The businessman has since toned down his rhetoric towards Clinton after his win last week. On 60 Minutes, he called the Clintons "good people" and said that he "liked them."
"It's not something I've given a lot of thought, because I want to solve healthcare, jobs, border control, tax reform," he told The Wall Street Journal on Nov. 11 when asked about prosecuting Clinton.
Rudy Guiliani, the former Mayor of New York who seems to be in consideration for Secretary of State in a Trump administration, has since made a point of saying this was still on the President-Elect's table and that they would look into it.
Here is Reverend Jackson's speech, which includes a painful analysis of what caused this election debacle.
Should the President pardon Hillary? Should he also preemptively protect the whole Clinton Family and his own family? Let him know your thoughts. Contact the President here.
Reverend Jackson also makes clear the role of voter suppression and racial resentment in economic distressed times. This is an important speech. It starts after introductions at about 4 minutes in.
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November 17, 2016
