Democrat Rep. Dean Phillips urges Trump pardon for 'good of the country'

In the immediate aftermath of his conviction in a New York courtroom last week, former President Donald Trump made clear his plans to lodge an aggressive appeal, but in the eyes of one Democratic lawmaker, clemency should be granted instead.

Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) has called on New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to grant the former president a pardon, something he said should be done “for the good of the country” and to prevent a further boost to Trump's campaign prospects, as Fox News reports.

Phillips calls for pardon

The congressman, who mounted a short-lived presidential campaign of his own earlier in this cycle, made no bones about his unfavorable feelings about Trump.

“Donald Trump is a serial liar, cheater, and philanderer, a six-time declarer of corporate bankruptcy, and instigator of insurrection, and a convicted felon who thrives on portraying himself as a victim,” the lawmaker explained.

However, he went on, “@GovKathyHochul should pardon him for the good of the country.”

In response to his naysayers, Phillips later wrote, “You think pardoning is stupid? Making him a martyr over a payment to a porn star is stupid (Election charges are entirely different.)”

Doing so, Phillips contended, is only “energizing [Trump's] base, generating record sums of campaign cash, and will likely result in an electoral boost.”

Hochul appears resistant

As the Huffington Post notes, it does not appear terribly likely that Hochul will grant Phillips' wish, at least according to statements she made after the Trump verdict was announced.

“Today's verdict reaffirms that no one is above the law,” Hochul said.

She went on, “In preparation for a verdict in this trial, I directed my Administration to closely coordinate with local and federal law enforcement and we continue to monitor the situation. We are committed to protecting the safety of all New Yorkers and the integrity of our judicial system.”

With Trump's sentencing set for July 11, there is at least a theoretical possibility that Judge Juan Merchan would send the former president and presumptive GOP presidential nominee to prison, given that each of the counts on which he was convicted provides for a maximum of four years' incarceration.

However, as Trump himself noted over the weekend, the public backlash from such a move would likely be massive, an observation that seems to lend credence to Phillips' warning that the Democrats' victory lap could easily turn into their own electoral disaster.