Though President Spiro T. Agnew had not been convicted during his impeachment trial, and he maintained his innocence regarding COINTELPRO many people did not believe that he really knew nothing about the program, and Agnew was derided for his blanket pardon to anyone involved in the program, including former President Richard Nixon. This prompted many in the Republican Party to call for President Agnew not to run for reelection. But President Agnew declared his intention to run for reelection.