White House officials are reportedly considering granting a pre-emptive pardon to retired Gen. Mark Milley over concerns that President-elect Donald Trump's incoming administration will pursue the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. are.
Milley, who served as the highest-ranking military officer in the United States during part of President Trump's first term, may be granted a pardon. washington post Thursday.
Mr. Milley, 66, cited journalist Bob Woodward's revelation that Pentagon officials made secret calls to senior Chinese officials before the 2020 election and after the Jan. 6, 2021, riot. As a result, President Biden faced intense scrutiny at the Capitol during his first year in office. United States Capitol Building.
During his pursuit in Congress in September 2021, Mr. Milley called People's Liberation Army Gen. Li Zuocheng to personally advise China in the event of an attack by the United States during the waning days of President Trump's term. He admitted that he had given him a warning.
Milley claimed he made the call because U.S. intelligence indicated China was concerned about an imminent attack and wanted to allay the fears of America's adversaries.
Responding to the call, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. – President Trump selects Secretary of State – Urging Biden to fire Milley, He claimed he was working to “actively undermine the sitting commander-in-chief.”
Mr. Trump later wrote on Truth Social that Mr. Milley's secret communications were “an act of treason, so egregious that in the past it would have been punishable by death!”
The president-elect also said he had no knowledge of Milley's call to China.
Milley is adamant that there was nothing inappropriate or treasonous about the call.
The retired Army general is part of a growing list of current and former government officials that Biden, 82, may pardon before he leaves office next month.
Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), Sen.-elect Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Dr. Anthony Fauci and others were pardoned by White House adviser Ed Siskel and Chief of Staff Jeff Zients. He is among the people with whom we have discussed the possibility that this may be necessary. Biden wants to block any potential investigation or prosecution.
Politico first reported on Wednesday about internal White House deliberations over preemptive pardons.
It's unclear whether Biden is involved in the discussion or whether he has taken a position on the issue.
The White House did not immediately respond to the Post's request for comment.
