Former President Bill Clinton stirred the political waters on ABC’s The View this week, discussing the possibility of President Joe Biden issuing a preemptive pardon for Hillary Clinton. The question, posed by co-host Sunny Hostin, centered on allegations that Hillary Clinton is a potential target in Kash Patel’s list of individuals Trump’s administration might investigate. Clinton’s response was a mix of defense, skepticism, and political calculation. Clinton was quick to defend his wife, dismissing past controversies and pointing the finger at partisan motives. “First, she didn’t do anything wrong,” he asserted. Referring to the long-debated email controversy, Clinton highlighted findings from Trump’s own State Department, which determined Hillary Clinton sent and received “exactly zero classified emails on her personal device.” For Clinton, the email saga—and any attempt to revive it—was a “made-up phony story.” This framing underscores his belief that any potential investigation into Hillary would be politically motivated rather than fact-based. Clinton’s dismissal of the issue reflects a larger Democratic narrative: that Trump-era investigations were about political theater rather than genuine accountability. Hostin pressed Clinton on whether a preemptive pardon would be wise, given the implications of guilt it could carry. Clinton’s response was nuanced. He noted that a pardon doesn’t necessarily imply wrongdoing, though he admitted it could be perceived that way by some. This highlights the precarious nature of preemptive pardons, which have historically been controversial—most notably in the case of Gerald Ford’s pardon of Richard Nixon. Clinton refrained from outright endorsing the idea, emphasizing that pardons are “a very personal thing.” He stopped short of urging Biden to act but left the door open to a private conversation on the matter, should Biden seek his advice. This noncommittal stance suggests Clinton is acutely aware of the political fallout such a move could generate. Clinton’s comments also reveal concerns about Trump’s intentions. He characterized Trump’s potential actions as a bid for vengeance, suggesting a desire to settle scores rather than pursue justice. “It’s normally a fool’s errand to spend a lot of time trying to get even,” Clinton remarked, signaling a broader critique of Trump’s approach to governance and accountability. Yet Clinton’s caution is also a nod to Biden’s political calculus. A preemptive pardon could shield Hillary Clinton from potential legal entanglements but might also embolden critics who claim Democrats are attempting to skirt accountability. Biden’s decision on this issue could set a precedent for how his administration handles the fallout of Trump’s return to power. Co-host Joy Behar echoed the concern many Democrats might share: that a pardon, regardless of intent, could be seen as an admission of guilt. “If he pardons them, that sort of implies they did something wrong,” she argued. Clinton’s response—“Not necessarily”—reflects a legal reality but also acknowledges the murky optics such an action would create.