Can Bob Menendez get a pardon from Donald Trump?

It sounds bizarre – even crazy. But we are in crazy times when invaders of the Capitol are simply excused.

We should know by now that there is nothing politically normal about Trump. That was true in his first term and it’s more true today.

He has remade the Republican Party to his liking, but by no means is he a philosophical Republican.

Traditional Republicans support free trade, not tariffs. And they support democracy overseas, not dictators. And they support law and order, not chaos.

So one has to get by the Democratic-Republican rubric in looking at this.

Menendez supporters, whoever they are, know that.

That’s why there were stories over the last few days suggesting allies of the former senator had reached out to Trump.

One from NBC suggests that Menendez, whose sentencing is set for Jan. 29, thinks he may stand a better chance with Trump than he did with Joe Biden.

There was this intriguing paragraph in one of the stories.

“Menendez, 71, also believes a rejection from Biden might make Trump more inclined to grant clemency, allies said.”

That is how Trump operates – doing something merely because his predecessor took the opposite view.

But that’s only part of it.

Throughout his career – even his pre-political career – Trump has had a warped view of crime and impropriety that seems to boil down to get away with what you can.

This is reinforced big time when it comes to white collar or political crime.

Given the fact Trump never thinks he does anything wrong, it is logical for him to assume other political “criminals” are similarly innocent.

In addition to Menendez, there are perhaps stronger rumors that Trump will pardon New York City Mayor Erik Adams, who is under indictment on federal bribery charges.

A story last fall quoted then-candidate Trump as saying the mayor has been “treated very unfairly.”

If Trump thinks federal authorities in New York are treating Adams poorly, it really is not a stretch for him to think the same of Menendez.

Yes, any pardon or clemency for Menendez is a long shot. His crimes are very serious.

But do not think it can’t happen.