Ron DeSantis Offers 'Asylum' to Lindsay Clancy Trial Holdout Juror, Calls NBC 'Another Low for Legacy Media'

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has offered 'asylum' to the lone holdout juror in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial, after reports surfaced alleging the man had faced a domestic-violence charge and was subject to a restraining order at the time of jury selection.

Clancy, 36, was charged with first-degree murder in the 2023 deaths of her three children, Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and 8-month-old Callan, at the family's home in Duxbury, Massachusetts. Her defence argued she was suffering from postpartum psychosis and was not criminally responsible.

After five weeks of testimony and seven days of deliberations, the jury split 11–1 in favour of a not-guilty verdict by reason of mental disease or defect, prompting Judge William Sullivan to declare a mistrial on 4 September.

DeSantis Backs Lindsay Clancy Holdout Juror

DeSantis took to X on 11 September to accuse NBC10 Boston of launching a 'smear campaign' after the station published court documents and interviews suggesting the unnamed juror faced a 2021 assault charge relating to an alleged incident with his then-wife, and that a teenage nephew later obtained a restraining order against him after alleging he had assaulted him.

'A man objected to allowing a woman to kill her three young kids and get away with it, so NBC is trying to smear that juror, whose identity should be protected,' DeSantis wrote. 'Another low for legacy media.'

He went further, adding: 'If the juror is being harassed, Florida will provide asylum — I'm sure he'd be welcomed and appreciated.'

NBC10 Boston reported that in September 2021 the juror was charged in Brockton District Court after his 13-year-old nephew called 911, saying he saw his uncle grab his wife by the throat and throw her into a dresser. According to the station, the charge was later dismissed and the couple divorced.

The network further reported that last year the same nephew obtained a restraining order alleging the juror pushed him to the ground and punched him repeatedly; that order was reportedly still active during jury selection.

The reports raise questions about vetting. Massachusetts' standard juror questionnaire asks whether prospective jurors have been arrested, charged with a crime or served with a court order.

NBC10 reported that the standard Massachusetts juror questionnaire asks prospective jurors whether they have been arrested, charged with a crime or served with a court order. The outlet said those questions appeared relevant to the juror, although his answers are not public and it could not confirm how he responded.

The network also reported that he was facing eviction after failing to pay rent since March 2026, with a housing-court judgment exceeding $12,000 issued while the jury was deliberating.

Fallout Over Lindsay Clancy Mistrial Juror

Other jurors have spoken out since the mistrial. Three told NBC10 Boston the panel leaned heavily towards acquittal on mental-health grounds, with the foreperson noting the holdout 'admitted he had reasonable doubt' yet refused to join a unanimous verdict.

Nick Dargie separately alleged that the holdout used an exercise band and water bottle to reenact the strangulations during deliberations. The claim that has not been independently established in court.

Clancy's husband, Patrick Clancy, has warned of legal action against influencers and conspiracy theorists spreading what he calls falsehoods about his role in the case. Republicans including Sen. Mike Lee and Rep. Nancy Mace have publicly criticised the case's outcome or the arguments surrounding Clancy's mental state, while DeSantis previously called the proceedings a 'kangaroo court'.