What To Know About Biden’s Swath of Preemptive Pardons

What To Know About Biden's Swath of Preemptive Pardons

President Biden issued multiple preemptive pardons on his way out of office to protect key figures from potential Trump retaliation.

Quick Takes

  • Biden pardoned Dr. Fauci, Gen. Milley, Jan. 6 committee staff, and multiple family members before leaving office.
  • The pardons aim to shield recipients from potential political prosecutions.
  • The move sparked backlash from Republicans and Trump supporters.
  • Biden emphasized pardons do not imply guilt or wrongdoing.

Biden’s Eleventh Hour Pardons

As his presidency drew to a close, President Joe Biden took the step of issuing preemptive pardons to Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired Gen. Mark Milley, and staff members of the House committee investigating the January 6 Capitol incident. The pardons, announced in the final hours of Biden’s term, were designed to safeguard these individuals from potential prosecutions by the new Trump administration.

In addition to these political figures, Biden also issued preemptive pardons for several members of his family.

The decision to grant these pardons has ignited controversy, with supporters hailing it as a necessary protection against political retribution and critics decrying it as an overreach of presidential power or suggesting that accepting a pardon implies guilt. Biden’s move underscores the deep political divisions that continue to plague the nation as power changes hands in Washington.

The Pardon Recipients

Fauci, who faced criticism for his handling of the 2020 health emergency and dismissal of the lab leak theory, was a key recipient of Biden’s pardons. Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was also pardoned following his public disagreements with Trump, including calling him a “wannabe dictator” and “fascist.” The pardons extended to members of the January 6 committee and police officers who testified before it, reflecting Biden’s concern about potential retaliation against those involved in investigating the Capitol incident.

Biden’s decision to include these individuals in his final round of pardons highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding the January 6 events and the 2020 health response, two defining issues of recent years that continue to divide the nation.

Other individuals Biden pardoned include multiple family members, including James B. Biden, Sara Jones Biden, Valerie Biden Owens, John T. Owens, and Francis W. Biden.

Protecting Public Servants or Shielding Wrongdoers?

In defending his decision, Biden emphasized that the pardons were not an admission of guilt but rather a safeguard against potential abuse of the justice system. He stated, “These public servants have served our nation with honor and distinction and do not deserve to be the targets of unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions.”

“I believe in the rule of law, and I am optimistic that the strength of our legal institutions will ultimately prevail over politics. But these are exceptional circumstances, and I cannot in good conscience do nothing,” Biden said.

When pardoning his family members shortly before the end of his presidency, Biden said they have been hit by “unrelenting attacks and threats” and said he doesn’t believe they will go away once he is out of office.

Fauci and Milley both welcomed Biden’s actions, with Fauci stating that he has been the “subject of politically motivated threats of investigation and prosecution.” Milley, meanwhile, expressed gratitude from himself and his family.

However, some view the pardons as an implicit acknowledgment of wrongdoing. Conservative activist Riley Gaines expressed this sentiment, saying, “Ask yourself this: Why would Joe Biden pardon Fauci if he wasn’t a criminal who should be locked up for his lies, negligence, & greed that killed innocent Americans? Biden was already going out in shame and disgrace, but this is a new low.”

Meanwhile, even some members of the Jan. 6 committee did not initially welcome the pardons, with Former Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger saying that while he understands the rationale behind the pardons, “the second you take a pardon, it looks like you’re guilty of something.” He and other members of the committee still ultimately expressed gratitude for the pardons, however.

Implications

The broader implications of these pardons on the political landscape and the precedent they set for future administrations remain to be seen. As the dust settles on Biden’s presidency and Trump retakes the reins, the nation watches closely to see how these extraordinary pardons will shape the political and legal battles to come.

Sources

  1. Trump slams Biden for pardoning Fauci, Milley and Jan. 6 committee staffers in final hours of presidency: ‘Disgraceful’
  2. Biden pardons Fauci, Milley and members of Jan. 6 panel
  3. Biden preemptively pardons Trump foes including Fauci, Milley and Jan. 6 committee
  4. President Biden pardons family members in final minutes of presidency