The fact that Mitt Romney (R-UT) gave an interview with a talking head at MSNBC itself says a lot about the junior senator from Utah, but in the course of that interview, Senator Romney made an interesting statement: that President Joe Biden not only should have pardoned former President Trump on any federal charges but should also have pressured prosecutors to drop any state or local charges. But not before throwing some shade at his fellow Republicans for supporting the former President.

Yes, really.

In an exclusive interview on MSNBC’s “The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle,” Romney expressed his dismay in response to Republican lawmakers, including the presumptive Republican presidential nominee’s vice presidential prospects, rallying to Trump’s defense outside of the Manhattan courthouse where Trump’s hush money trial is taking place.

“How does that make you feel about Republicans?” Ruhle asked Romney.

Romney, a vocal critic of Trump, said, “I think it’s a terrible fault, for our country to see people attacking our legal system — that’s an enormous mistake,” he said. “I think it’s also demeaning for people to quite, apparently, try and run for vice president by donning the red tie and standing outside the courthouse and it’s just— I felt awkward.”

That wasn't the interesting bit. Here's that onion:

The Utah Republican argued that Biden should have pardoned Trump when the Justice Department announced charges against him and that the current president “made an enormous error” by not pressuring New York prosecutors to drop their case against Trump. (Presidents can only pardon in federal cases).

"He should have fought like crazy to keep this prosecution from going forward,” Romney said, referring to Biden. “It was a win-win for Donald Trump.”

Take note of that last utterance. Senator Romney doesn't think Trump should have been relieved of his legal woes out of any sense of Republican solidarity, out of support for a former Republican president, or even out of common decency for the patently trumped-up (hah) nature of the various charges. He thinks the current president is handing the former president a campaign advantage by making him go through all this.

See Related: Did Mitt Romney Just Ruin Katie Britt's Chances of Being Chosen as Trump's VP? 

Still Gagged: NY Appeals Court Upholds Order Stifling Trump Speech in Manhattan Trial

And finally, the real howler from the good senator:

“I do. ... I mean, you may disagree with this, but had I been President Biden, when the Justice Department brought on indictments, I would have immediately pardoned him ... President Trump. Why? Well, because it makes me, President Biden, the big guy and the person I pardoned a little guy.”

Whatever one thinks of Donald Trump, there's no universe in which Mitt Romney is ever going to be the big guy and Trump the little guy. That's just not happening. Even if Trump were a "little guy," Mitt Romney would most surely be a smaller one.

Last fall, Senator Romney announced he won't be seeking reelection, at the same time calling for a "new generation of leaders." That, combined with his constant opposition to all things Trump and his statements to MSNBC, is particularly interesting in light of the fact that Donald Trump has done one thing Mitt Romney failed to do — be elected president.

Maybe Mitt Romney can get a job as a commentator for MSNBC — maybe as their new tame Republican. That's a gig that may suit his inclinations better than being a Republican senator.