NAIROBI, Kenya — In an unprecedented move on his final day as president, Joe Biden issued pre-emptive pardons to protect high-profile figures, including former COVID-19 advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci and retired General Mark Milley, from potential “politically motivated prosecutions” under the incoming Trump administration.
This sweeping gesture also extended to members and staff of the House committee that investigated the January 6 Capitol attack.
In a statement, Biden framed the pardons as necessary to uphold the integrity of public service.
“These public servants have served our nation with honor and distinction,” he said. “I cannot in good conscience do nothing in the face of unjustified and politically motivated threats.”
Dr. Fauci, a central figure in America’s COVID-19 response, has faced relentless criticism from Trump allies, including Elon Musk, who publicly called for his prosecution.
Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, became a target of Trump’s ire after describing him as a “dangerous person” in interviews and revealing he reassured China of U.S. stability following the Capitol riot.
Trump’s sharp rebuke of Milley on Truth Social, declaring, “In times gone by, the punishment would have been DEATH!” underscored the tensions fueling Biden’s decision.
Milley expressed gratitude for the pardon, stating he wished to avoid spending his remaining years “fighting those who unjustly might seek retribution.” Fauci similarly thanked Biden, emphasizing, “I have committed no crime.”
With Biden making last minute pardons and commutations, @MattGaetz sounds off on one of the commutations given to Leonard Peltier, an extremist activist convicted of murdering two FBI agents. Watch Here: live.oann.com/home.ktv?utm_s…
Biden’s protective shield extended to figures involved in the January 6 investigation, including former Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney and Democratic Senator Adam Schiff.
Cheney, a staunch Trump critic, had been a vocal member of the committee probing the insurrection.
Schiff, who had previously voiced skepticism about blanket pardons, may now find himself in a unique position following this sweeping gesture.
Biden clarified that the pardons should not be misconstrued as admissions of guilt, stressing the move aimed to “prevent baseless and politically motivated investigations from wreaking havoc” on individuals’ lives.
Biden’s parting acts included commuting sentences for nearly 2,500 individuals and granting a controversial pardon to his son, Hunter Biden.
This latest round of pardons underscores a broader theme of shielding individuals from what the outgoing president described as “lawfare” tactics.
