Mitt Romney says Biden should have pardoned Trump as he rips ‘embarrassing’ Republicans flocking to trial

Senator Mitt Romney said Joe Biden should have pardoned Donald Trump after the Justice Department brought election-interference charges and pressured New York prosecutors to drop the case over alleged hush-money payments.

“He should have fought like crazy to keep this prosecution from going forward,” Mr Romney said, referring to Mr Biden, during an interview on MSNBC’sThe 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle. “It was a win-win for Donald Trump.”

Mr Romney said pardoning Mr Trump would have put Mr Biden in a position of power over the former president.

“I mean, you may disagree with this, but had I been President Biden, when the Justice Department brought on indictments, I would have immediately pardoned [Mr Trump],” Mr Romney said. “Why? Well, because it makes me, President Biden, the big guy and the person I pardoned a little guy.”

Mr Romney also criticised the parade of Republican leaders trying use Mr Trump's trial to get their faces out in front of the public and press, calling the display «a little embarrassing.»

«I think it’s a little demeaning to show up in front of a courthouse particularly one where we’re talking about an allegation of paying a porn star,» Mr Romney told reporters before a Senate Foreign Relations Committee meeting on Wednesday.

The proceedings have drawn crowds of onlookers and an army of press, which has made it fertile ground for Republican leaders hoping to visibly show their fealty to the 2024 GOP presidential candidate.

Among those edging their way into the fringes of the spotlight cast on Mr Trump were Senators Rick Scott, Tommy Tuberville, and JD Vance, Representative Byron Donalds, House Speaker Mike Johnson, South Dakota's Governor Doug Burgum and failed GOP primary candidate Vivek