On Centennial of 19th Amendment, Trump Pardons Susan B. Anthony

President Trump’s pardon of the famed suffragist comes as women celebrate the 100th anniversary of their right to vote, and Joseph R. Biden Jr. benefits from a yawning gender gap.

Susan B. Anthony in 1900.Credit...Frances Benjamin Johnston, via Library of Congress

WASHINGTON — President Trump on Tuesday said that he would pardon Susan B. Anthony, the women’s suffragist who was arrested after voting illegally in 1872 and charged a $100 fine, as he tried to appeal to female voters on the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment giving them the right to vote.

The pardon appeared to be an effort to distract from the Democratic National Convention and narrow the historically large gender gap that has him trailing Joseph R. Biden Jr. in the White House race.

“She was never pardoned. Did you know that? She was never pardoned,” Mr. Trump said. “What took so long?”

[Read more about the women’s suffrage movement.]

Mr. Trump teased the pardon as he traveled on Air Force One on Monday, telling reporters he was going to erase the conviction of someone “very, very important.”