Joe Biden is reportedly planning to grant preemptive pardons to a number of individuals prior to handing over the White House to Donald Trump on January 20. This comes after he pardoned his son Hunter Biden, who was scheduled to be sentenced in instances involving gun purchases and tax fraud.
According to US media, President Joe Biden is contemplating preemptive pardons for a number of well-known figures who may face reprisals from President-elect Donald Trump’s upcoming administration.
Former Republican congressman Liz Cheney, a harsh critic of Trump, and Anthony Fauci, the former White House special advisor on COVID-19, are among those being considered for the historic pardons.
The president-elect has made no secret of his intention to get revenge on his detractors and those who he believes cheated him out of the 2020 election.
Before he leaves the White House on January 20, Biden has talked with advisors about the potential use of his constitutional authority to protectively grant preemptive pardons, even to those who have not yet been charged with any crimes.
Politico, the New York Times, CBS News, and the Washington Post all reported on the talks, citing unnamed people who were close to the conversations.
Although she did not confirm the rumors, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated on Friday that President Biden was “reviewing other pardons and commutations.”
When Biden reversed course on Sunday and pardoned his son Hunter, who was scheduled to be sentenced this month in cases involving tax fraud and gun purchases, he caused a stir.
Additionally, retired general Mark Milley and Democratic Representative Adam Schiff of California, who was the lead manager during the first Senate impeachment of Trump, may be eligible for preemptive pardons to protect them from Trump.
According to journalist Bob Woodward, Milley, who served as head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during Trump’s first term, called Trump “a total fascist” and “the most dangerous person to this country.”
Schiff stated that he would oppose such a move in response to the reports.
He told US media, “I don’t think the idea of a blanket pardon of some kind is a good idea, and I would recommend against it,” and the White House had been informed of his stance.
Prosecution threats
Kash Patel, the man the president-elect selected to lead the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), would be in charge of overseeing any such prosecutions.
Speaking as FBI chief, Patel, who was a senior Pentagon official during the first Trump administration, has stated that he would “come after” individuals “who helped Joe Biden rig presidential elections.”
Trump stated in September on his Truth Social platform that “those who cheated will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law” “WHEN I WIN.”
The United States has a lengthy tradition of issuing presidential pardons at the conclusion of a term.
Trump pardoned 74 individuals on his final day in the White House in January 2021, including former senior strategist Steve Bannon and former prominent Republican fundraiser Elliot Broidy, who were charged with a variety of felonies and misdemeanors.
Additionally, Gerald Ford, Richard Nixon’s successor, declared “a full, free and absolute pardon” for any crimes against the United States that Nixon may have committed while in office in September 1974, one month after Nixon’s resignation due to the Watergate incident.
However, the numerous preemptive pardons that Biden is allegedly considering might be the first in order to shield a number of individuals from potential future indictments.
