Joe Biden will use the final days of his presidential term to issue pre-emptive pardons to politicians, public servants and even their families to protect against what he described as a “threat” from the incoming Trump administration. He exercised his authority in an unusual manner.
The pardon is announced on Monday morning Biden has joined Donald Trump and his allies, including former White House chief medical adviser Anthony Fauci, retired general Mark Milley, and members of the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. “These people said they faced the acts of…” “Revenge” through criminal prosecution.
The pardons include two prominent Republicans, former Representative Liz Cheney and former Representative Adam Kinzinger, who have been critical of President Trump, and could face retaliation from the next president.
The White House made the announcement late Monday, minutes before President Donald Trump was sworn in. another statement Biden announced his final act as a senior official, pardoning five family members.
“My family has been subjected to relentless attacks and threats motivated solely by the desire to harm me. This is partisan politics of the worst kind. Unfortunately, there is no reason to believe these attacks will end. No,” Biden said.
Those forgiven were his two brothers, James and Francis. James Biden's wife Sarah, Biden's sister Valerie, and her husband John also made the list. Republicans are calling for a criminal investigation into Biden's family on charges of “influence trafficking.” The outgoing president pardoned his son Hunter in December.
Presidents typically grant pardons at the end of their terms, but Biden's decision extends presidential pardons to people who are not under investigation. And if President Trump were to pursue them, it would precipitate future political and judicial crises.
In his first statement, Biden said the United States “owes a debt of gratitude to these public servants for their tireless dedication to our country.”
“The issuance of these pardons should not be misconstrued as an admission that an individual has engaged in any wrongdoing, nor should acceptance of a pardon be misconstrued as an admission of guilt for any crime,” he said. added.
“These are exceptional circumstances and we cannot do anything in good conscience,” Biden said in a statement. “Even if an individual has done nothing wrong, is in fact doing the right thing, and is ultimately acquitted, the mere fact that they are investigated or prosecuted can have a huge impact on their reputation and finances. It may cause irreversible damage.”
Biden's decision comes as Trump has criticized his political opponents, his attempts to overturn his 2020 election loss, and his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. It came after warning of an enemy list filled with those seeking to place blame. President Trump has selected Cabinet nominees who have promised to punish those involved in his investigation.
Fauci, who helped coordinate the nation's response to the coronavirus pandemic, drew the ire of President Trump after refusing to back his baseless claims. He has been the target of intense hatred and vitriol from those on the right, who have criticized mask mandates and perceived violations of their rights, even as tens of thousands of Americans have lost their lives. He has been criticized for other policies that
Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley called President Trump a fascist and detailed his actions regarding the Capitol riot.
Milley said in a statement that she was “deeply grateful” for Biden's actions. “After 43 years in uniform, defending the Constitution and faithfully serving my country, I may spend the rest of the time the Lord has given me seeking unjust retribution for a perceived slight. “I don’t want to spend it fighting people,” he said.
Biden also spoke to the staff of the Jan. 6 committee that investigated the attack, as well as to the U.S. Capitol and Washington, D.C., who testified before a House committee about their experiences that day, when the Capitol was occupied by an angry and violent mob. Officers from the DC Metropolitan Police Department were also pardoned. About Trump supporters.
The commission spent 18 months investigating President Trump and the riot.
Harry Dunn, a former Capitol Police officer who has become an outspoken critic of President Trump, told CBS News: Like all public servants, I was just doing my job and upholding my oath. I will always respect that. ”
Biden set a presidential record for the most individual pardons and commutations. On Friday, he announced commuting the sentences of about 2,500 people convicted of nonviolent drug crimes.
In a statement Monday, Biden also commuted the life sentence imposed on Native American activist Leonard Pelletier, who served nearly 50 years in federal prison for the 1975 murders of two FBI agents. Mr. Pelletier will serve the remainder of his sentence under home confinement.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report
