Attorney General’s Office says Baharav-Miara yet to examine Netanyahu’s pardon request

The Attorney General’s Office states that Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has not yet examined Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s request for a pardon from President Isaac Herzog for his indictments on corruption charges in three cases.

“It will be examined in accordance with standard working procedures,” Baharav-Miara’s office says.

The statement comes following a report by Channel 13 on Friday that the attorney general is in the process of completing her position paper on Netanyahu’s pardon request, and will file it in the coming weeks to the Justice Ministry’s Pardons Department.

According to the report, Baharav-Miara’s position will be that Netanyahu’s request does not meet the criteria for a pardon.

In a previous ruling on the issue, the High Court of Justice stated that pardons can only be issued before a conviction when applicants admit having committed the criminal acts for which they are requesting the pardon.

Netanyahu has refused to admit guilt for the crimes for which he was indicted and is standing trial for, however.

Last week, shortly after meeting with Netanyahu, US President Donald Trump said Herzog “should be ashamed of himself” for not granting a pardon. Herzog’s office was said to be seeking clarification from Netanyahu as to whether the latter had encouraged the move, and the premier’s office has claimed the prime minister was not involved.