"DeSantis and Haley Intensify Campaign Efforts as Trump Leads Approaching Primaries"

Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis, both potential Republican presidential candidates, have stated they would pardon Donald Trump if he were convicted, aligning themselves with him rather than challenging his influence within the GOP. This stance reflects a broader reluctance within the Republican Party to confront Trump's actions and the ongoing shift in party members' beliefs regarding the January 6 attack and Trump's responsibility. Their positions echo the historical precedent of Gerald Ford's unpopular pardon of Richard Nixon, suggesting a continued trend of protecting presidential misconduct at the expense of legal accountability.