Lindsay Clancy’s lawyer has made a direct appeal to President Donald Trump following the mistrial in his client’s high-profile Massachusetts murder case.
Defense attorney Kevin Reddington made the unusual request during an appearance “Good Morning America” on Tuesday, Sept. 8, asking Trump to consider a pardon for Clancy.
“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.
Clancy, 36, is accused of killing her three young children — Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and 8-month-old Callan — at the family’s Massachusetts home in January 2023.
Her trial ended in a mistrial on Sept. 4 after the jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict. The jury had deliberated for roughly seven days, with reports indicating an 11–1 split. Prosecutors had argued that Clancy deliberately killed her children, while the defense maintained that she was experiencing postpartum psychosis and was not criminally responsible for her actions.
The request to Trump, however, immediately raises a major legal issue: Clancy’s case is being prosecuted under Massachusetts state law, not federal law. A president’s constitutional pardon power generally applies to federal offenses, meaning Trump cannot simply pardon her in the same way he could someone convicted of a federal crime.
Reddington later clarified that he is essentially hoping Trump could use his political influence to help bring about a resolution. He suggested that Trump could potentially reach out to Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz, who would ultimately have a role in deciding how the case proceeds.
The prosecutor’s office has not yet announced whether Clancy will face a second trial, a different legal resolution or another outcome.
Trump previously commented on the case after the mistrial, calling the situation a “horrible tragedy” and saying there would be a “price to pay,” while suggesting that Clancy could ultimately face prison or psychiatric institutionalization.
For now, Clancy remains at a state psychiatric facility as the legal battle continues, while prosecutors consider what comes next after the jury failed to reach a verdict.