US President Donald Trump has declined to intervene in the case of Massachusetts mother Lindsay Clancy, who is accused of killing her three young children in January 2023.
Clancy, 36, faces three counts of first-degree murder over the deaths of her children, Cora, five, Dawson, three, and eight-month-old Callan.
Trump addressed the case on Sunday after being asked whether he would consider pardoning Clancy, following a public appeal from her lawyer, Kevin Reddington.
The US president described the case as deeply tragic but said he could not intervene because the matter falls under state jurisdiction rather than federal authority.
“It’s a very sad situation. There is no winner there. There is no win no matter what you do. Three children are dead,” Trump said.
He added that the matter would have to be resolved at the state level while describing Reddington as a good lawyer.
“He’s a good attorney. I’ve heard from other people he’s a very good attorney,” Trump said.
“I hope they can work it out. That’s something they have to work out … There is no win there.”
Reddington had appealed to Trump the previous week to pardon his client, while acknowledging that a presidential pardon would not apply to a conviction for a state offence.
The defence has argued that Clancy was suffering from postpartum psychosis, a severe psychiatric condition that can affect a person’s connection with reality after childbirth.
Following the deaths of her children, Clancy attempted suicide and sustained injuries that left her paralysed.
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Her first trial ended in a mistrial earlier this month after jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict following a week of deliberations.
Reports indicated that the jury was divided 11-1, with 11 jurors reportedly favouring an acquittal on the grounds that Clancy was not criminally responsible for the deaths.