Clancy’s Lawyer STUNS With Desperate Trump Plea

Lindsay Clancy’s lawyer asked President Trump for a pardon on live television hours after a state murder trial ended in a mistrial.

Story Snapshot

Defense attorney Kevin Reddington made a direct televised plea to President Trump for a pardon.
A Massachusetts judge declared a mistrial after a deadlocked jury.
Presidential pardons cover federal crimes, not state prosecutions like Clancy’s case.
A mistrial is not an acquittal; prosecutors can retry the case.

What Happened And Why It Matters

Defense attorney Kevin Reddington used a national morning show to ask President Trump to consider a pardon for Lindsay Clancy. He cited her hardships and the mistrial result and spoke directly to the camera with his request. The ask came days after a Massachusetts jury could not reach a unanimous verdict in Clancy’s state murder case. The judge declared a mistrial, and the case returned to the district attorney for next steps.

The quick pivot from courtroom to clemency set off strong reactions. Supporters say mercy is part of justice when mental health is at issue. Critics call the appeal a media play that skips the legal process still in motion. The core legal point is simple and decisive: a presidential pardon cannot reach a state criminal case. Only a governor and the state’s clemency process can do that. That legal limit frames what comes next more than any television moment.

Lindsay Clancy attorney Kevin Reddington making an appeal to Trump: "Mr. President, I would hope that you would consider, this young lady, the type of person she is, what she's been through, and consider a pardon." pic.twitter.com/dk2zO03XHv

— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) September 8, 2026

The Mistrial Does Not End The Case

The judge’s mistrial ruling means the jury was deadlocked and could not deliver a verdict. The charges remain. Prosecutors can seek a new trial, negotiate a plea, or reassess the case. A mistrial is neither guilt nor innocence; it resets the board for another try or a resolution by agreement. The public often reads “mistrial” as a win for the defense. The law treats it as unfinished business that the state can revisit.

Reddington’s timing took advantage of a brief vacuum after the mistrial. Defense lawyers often press momentum when the government falters. The direct appeal to the White House added drama but ran into a constitutional wall. The Constitution gives presidents the power to forgive “offenses against the United States.” That phrase means federal crimes only. State crimes remain under state control, full stop.

Why A Presidential Pardon Does Not Fit Here

Lindsay Clancy faces state murder charges in Massachusetts. That places all punishment decisions inside state law. A presidential pardon cannot wipe out, delay, or preempt a state case. The United States Department of Justice’s Office of the Pardon Attorney says this plainly: the President’s clemency power is limited to federal offenses and the District of Columbia’s unique federal prosecutions. Any real clemency path here would run through Massachusetts, not Washington.

This boundary reflects federalism, not partisanship. States prosecute state crimes. The federal government prosecutes federal crimes. Voters expect leaders to follow these lanes. Conservatives often stress clear rules, local control, and respect for victims. By that standard, calling for a presidential pardon in a state case misleads the public and adds false hope. It also shifts attention away from the proper forums: the trial court, the district attorney, and the governor’s office.

Lawyer asks Trump to pardon Lindsay Clancy after deadlocked jury

Lindsay Clancy’s attorney, Kevin Reddington, has appealed to President Donald Trump to consider a pardon for his client following a mistrial in her murder trial last week.

ABC News reports that Reddington made the… pic.twitter.com/2fg44tnFLQ

— Rifnote (@viarifnote) September 8, 2026

What Comes Next In Court And In Politics

The district attorney will decide whether to retry the case, offer a plea, or change course. The defense can push for a deal, highlight mental health evidence, or seek rulings that narrow the state’s case. The family, the public, and the media will watch closely. The legal process will move at its own speed. Any federal clemency talk will stay symbolic unless the charges move to federal court, which the record does not show here.

The smarter play for the defense, if mercy is the goal, is twofold. First, work the legal record to reduce exposure in any retrial. Second, prepare a state clemency strategy aimed at the governor if there is ever a conviction. That approach respects the law and keeps faith with the community’s need for order. It also preserves room for compassion, which belongs inside the rules, not outside them.