Trump Responds to Lindsay Clancy Pardon Plea, Says Case Is a ‘State Situation’
President Donald Trump has responded to a public plea from Lindsay Clancy’s defense attorney for a presidential pardon, saying the Massachusetts mother’s case is a state matter that must be resolved by local prosecutors and the courts.
Clancy’s attorney, Kevin Reddington, publicly appealed to Trump after her first-degree murder trial ended in a mistrial earlier this month. Clancy is charged in connection with the 2023 deaths of her three young children, Cora, Dawson and Callan.
Asked about the pardon request Sunday, Trump described the case as an extremely sad situation and emphasized the deaths of the three children. He said there is “no winner” regardless of the eventual outcome and noted that the prosecution falls under Massachusetts state law rather than federal jurisdiction.
The president also spoke positively about Reddington’s reputation as an attorney and expressed hope that the two sides could reach some form of resolution. However, Trump did not indicate that he planned to personally intervene in the case.
A presidential pardon generally applies to federal offenses, while Clancy is facing state murder charges. Reddington has acknowledged that legal limitation but said he hoped Trump’s influence could still help bring about a resolution with Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz.
Clancy’s trial ended Sept. 4 after jurors were unable to reach a unanimous decision following nearly 40 hours of deliberations. Her defense maintained that she was suffering from postpartum psychosis when she killed her children, while prosecutors disputed that argument and contended that the killings were deliberate.
Reddington has said he would be willing to discuss a resolution with prosecutors but does not believe Clancy should serve time in prison. Cruz has not announced whether his office will retry the case, leaving Clancy’s legal future unresolved.
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey has also addressed the pardon discussion, explaining that there is currently no conviction to pardon because Clancy’s case remains pending. Clancy is scheduled to return to court later this month for additional proceedings.
Trump previously described the deaths as a “horrible tragedy” and said Clancy would ultimately face consequences that could involve either incarceration or placement in a mental health institution. His latest comments make clear that he views the ultimate resolution as a matter for Massachusetts authorities.