Lindsay Clancy’s Attorney Asks Trump For Pardon After Mistrial

The attorney representing Lindsay Clancy is publicly asking President Donald Trump to consider pardoning the Massachusetts mother following a mistrial in the deaths of her three young children.

Defense attorney Kevin Reddington made the unusual request Tuesday while discussing what comes next in the case against Clancy, whose trial ended after jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict.

Clancy was charged with three counts of first degree murder in the deaths of her children, 5 year old Cora, 3 year old Dawson and infant Callan. The children died at the family’s Duxbury, Massachusetts home in January 2023.

Clancy’s defense never disputed that she killed the children. Instead, the central issue at trial was whether she was criminally responsible for her actions.

Her attorneys argued that Clancy was suffering from postpartum psychosis and experiencing a severe psychiatric episode at the time of the killings. Prosecutors argued that her actions were deliberate and that the evidence demonstrated planning and intent.

Jury Unable To Reach Unanimous Decision

After nearly six weeks of testimony and seven days of deliberations, the jury informed Judge William Sullivan that it could not reach a unanimous decision.

A mistrial was declared September 4.

Reddington has said the jury was reportedly divided 11 to 1, with one juror preventing a unanimous verdict.

During the final days of deliberations, the defense raised concerns about whether that juror was properly applying the court’s instructions regarding reasonable doubt and criminal responsibility.

The judge declined to remove the juror or conduct the additional inquiry requested by the defense.

With no unanimous verdict possible, the case ended without either a conviction or an acquittal.

Attorney Makes Appeal To Trump

Following the mistrial, Reddington publicly appealed to Trump to consider helping Clancy.

Trump had previously acknowledged following the case and discussed the possibility that Clancy could ultimately face incarceration or confinement in a mental health institution.

There is, however, a major limitation on what Trump could actually do.

Clancy is facing Massachusetts state charges, not federal charges. Presidential pardon authority applies to federal offenses and does not ordinarily extend to state criminal prosecutions.

That means Trump could not simply wipe away Clancy’s Massachusetts murder charges through a presidential pardon.

Still, Reddington’s request brings the president into a case that has already attracted national attention and intense debate over postpartum mental illness and criminal responsibility.

What Happens Next?

Reddington also said he is willing to discuss a possible resolution with prosecutors rather than immediately proceeding toward another lengthy trial.

Prosecutors have not yet announced whether they will retry Clancy.

The two sides are scheduled to return to court September 29 to discuss what happens next.

For now, the charges against Clancy remain unresolved.

A mistrial does not mean she was found innocent, and it does not mean she was found guilty. Prosecutors can seek another trial, the defense can continue challenging the case, or the two sides could potentially reach an agreement.

Clancy remains at a psychiatric facility while the case continues.