Full Breakdown
Defense Lawyer Seeks Trump Pardon After Massachusetts Murder Trial Ends in Mistrial
9/10/2026, 12:32:07 AM
Background & Context
Lindsay Clancy, a 36-year-old former labor-and-delivery nurse, was charged in Plymouth Superior Court with three counts of first-degree murder for the January 2023 strangulation deaths of her children—Cora, Dawson and infant Callan (8 months). Clancy pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, citing postpartum psychosis and auditory hallucinations. Prosecutors argued she planned the killings and understood right from wrong. The trial lasted roughly six weeks, with jurors hearing extensive testimony on her mental-health history.
Core Event: Attorney Appeals to President Trump for a Pardon
On the September 8, 2026 episode of ABC’s *Good Morning America*, Clancy’s longtime defense attorney Kevin Reddington publicly asked President Donald Trump to intervene. “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,” Reddington said.
Legal Analysis: Presidential Pardons and State Charges
Legal scholars emphasized that the Constitution limits presidential pardons to “offenses against the United States.” Mark Osler, a clemency specialist at the University of St. Thomas School of Law, noted, “It’s not a federal case, and the pardon power only covers federal cases, and that’s very clearly established.” Constitutional-law attorney Jonathan Turley confirmed there is no mechanism for a presidential pardon of a state conviction: “He cannot pardon for state offenses.” Consequently, any clemency for Clancy would have to come from Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, who holds the state’s pardon authority.
Official Statements & Responses
President Trump remarked, “It’s a terrible situation. Look, she did a horrible, horrible thing… There will be a price. It’s going to be mental institution or jail or something.” The White House referred to Trump’s earlier comments but offered no comment on the pardon request.
Criticism & Opposition
Legal commentators dismissed the appeal as untenable. Mark Bederow, a New York-based criminal-defense attorney, warned, “There isn’t going to be a pardon for the simple reason there is no mechanism by law which would allow said pardon.” He added that the request “lacks credibility.”
Data & Statistics
- Jury deliberations totaled roughly 38 hours over seven days.
- The 12-person panel was split 11-1 in favor of a not-guilty-by-reason-of-insanity verdict; one juror’s refusal to apply the law of reasonable doubt prompted the mistrial on September 4, 2026.
- The next scheduled court date is September 29, 2026, when the parties will address whether the case proceeds to a retrial, a plea agreement, or dismissal.
What’s Next
At the September 29 hearing, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz must decide whether to retry Clancy, seek a reduced charge, negotiate a plea deal, or drop the case. Governor Healey’s office has not commented on any potential state clemency.
Verbatim Quotes
- “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,” — Kevin Reddington
- “It’s not a federal case, and the pardon power only covers federal cases, and that’s very clearly established,” — Mark Osler
- “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.” — President Trump
- “There isn't going to be a pardon for the simple reason there is no mechanism by law which would allow said pardon,” — Mark Bederow
- “I just am horrified at what women have to deal with postpartum,” — Kevin Reddington
- “He’s a very hard-charging prosecutor, a conservative gentleman,” — Kevin Reddington
