Lindsay Clancy’s defense attorney made a legally impossible appeal on national television Tuesday, asking President Donald Trump to pardon his client following the mistrial in her triple-murder case.
Defense attorney Kevin Reddington appeared on Good Morning America and directed his plea straight to the Oval Office.
“I’d like to say that perhaps Donald Trump, who felt compelled to speak out on this case. Mr. President, I would hope that you would consider this young lady. The type of person she is, what she has been through, and consider a pardon.”
The request is legally impossible. Federal pardons do not apply to state-level convictions — only Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey holds the power to pardon Clancy, and she has given no public indication she would consider doing so.
Surfacing reports suggest the move may have been an effort to draw Trump’s attention to the case, with the hope his administration could pressure local officials — including the district attorney — to drop charges and avoid a grueling retrial.
Alternatively, Reddington’s decision to make the appeal on national television may have been a calculated attempt to thrust the case back into the headlines and keep public pressure on prosecutors.
After 38 hours of deliberations, the jury at Plymouth Superior Court failed to reach a unanimous verdict on September 4th. The judge declared a mistrial, despite Reddington’s last-minute request for an emergency stay.
President Trump made his first public comments on the high-profile case Friday, calling it a “terrible situation” and a “horrible tragedy.”
“Look, she did a horrible, horrible thing,” Trump said of Clancy. “Can’t be worse. But you’ll find out what the price to pay is. There’ll be a price. It’s going to be mental institution or jail or something.”
Asked by reporters if he was following the trial, Trump replied, “It’s on television so much, it’s hard not to follow it.”
The president also noted that another trial is possible, which he called “too bad.”
Reddington told Good Morning America he hopes to reach an agreement with Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz, suggesting Clancy would be open to a plea deal.
“He’s a very hard-charging prosecutor, a conservative gentleman,” Reddington said of Cruz. “I hope however after sitting through this trial and seeing the evidence that was presented from the government as well as from the defense, that he would revisit that issue and hopefully would be able to work something out that would be acceptable to both sides.”
Clancy, 36, has been charged with first-degree charges, three counts of strangulation or suffocation and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in connection with the 2023 case involving her three young children.
The Massachusetts mother has admitted to strangling her three children but pleaded not guilty, arguing she should not be held criminally responsible because she was overmedicated with psychiatric medications and suffering from postpartum psychosis — sparking a national debate over the criminal culpability of individuals during severe mental health crises.
The court has scheduled a status hearing for September 29th to decide the next steps regarding a potential retrial.
The charges remain allegations. The case has not been proven in court.
Lindsay Clancy’s attorney begs President Trump to pardon her on Good Morning America:
“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/sBYIoBkT3H
— Media Research Center (@theMRC) September 8, 2026
