Why Is Benjamin Netanyahu Demanding A Pardon Before He’s Even been Convicted?

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00:00Why is Benjamin Netanyahu demanding a pardon before he's even been convicted?

00:05It's an unprecedented move that critics say puts him above the law.

00:08The Prime Minister has officially asked President Herzog for a pardon and the reasoning might

00:13or might not surprise you.

00:15Netanyahu's argument is simple.

00:17He says his corruption trial is tearing the country apart and stopping it is the only

00:22way to restore national unity.

00:24He claims he can't lead the country and sit in court three times a week.

00:28But here's the massive legal problem.

00:30Netanyahu hasn't been convicted of anything yet.

00:33He refuses to admit guilt or retire.

00:36Experts say a pre-conviction pardon is extremely rare and usually requires an admission of guilt.

00:41The opposition isn't quite happy.

00:43They say you can't pardon someone who claims they're innocent and that this proves Netanyahu

00:47thinks he is above the law.

00:49They're demanding he resigns if he wants a pardon.

00:52It's a constitutional showdown at this point.

00:54But Herzog now has to decide stop the trial for the sake of quote unity or let justice take

01:00its course.