Synopsis
In his last hours as President, Joe Biden granted pardons to Anthony Fauci and various individuals facing potential legal challenges from Donald Trump's incoming administration, including members of Congress and law enforcement involved in the January 6 investigations.Key Takeaways
- Joe Biden issues pardons in final presidential hours.
- Pardons include Anthony Fauci and Mark Milley.
- Targeted individuals may face Trump’s legal actions.
- Some pardoned may reject them due to perceived guilt.
- Trump plans to announce his own pardons soon.
New York, Jan 20 (NationPress) In the closing moments of his presidency, Joe Biden issued pardons for Anthony Fauci, who was at the forefront of the response to the Covid pandemic, along with several others who could face legal challenges in the forthcoming administration of Donald Trump.
The extensive preemptive pardons included former chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley, as well as the members and staff of the Congressional committee that looked into the January 6, 2021, Capitol assault.
Trump had personally targeted several of these individuals and others collectively during his presidential campaign.
He is expected to reveal his own list of pardons upon taking office.
Trump has indicated that he would pardon those who were convicted or are under trial for actions taken during the January 6 riots.
It will be up to those pardoned by Biden to decide whether to accept or decline the clemency, as some might see accepting the pardon as an acknowledgment of guilt.
While announcing the pardons, Biden stated, “Even when individuals have done nothing wrong — and in fact, have acted correctly — the mere fact of being investigated or prosecuted can irreparably damage reputations and finances.”
Fauci, who worked alongside Trump during the pandemic providing updates and leading efforts, said, “Let me be perfectly clear: I have committed no crime, and there are no grounds for any allegations or threats of criminal investigation or prosecution against me.”
However, he noted, “The mere articulation of these unfounded threats, and the prospect that they may be acted upon, causes immense and unbearable stress for me and my family.”
Trump distanced himself from Fauci due to pressure from the extreme right faction of his base that opposed lockdowns and vaccination mandates, accusing him of misleading the public and casting a shadow on his institution's scientific collaborations with Chinese entities.
Trump stated that Milley ought to be “executed” for his communications with the Chinese military chief post the January 6 incident.
The general had allegedly cautioned China against taking advantage of the situation.
Biden’s pardons included Liz Cheney, the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, who opposed Trump due to his involvement in the riots and served as the only Republican on the panel probing the incident.
The pardons also extended to law enforcement personnel who enforced the law on January 6 and testified before the Congressional committee.
Earlier, Biden had pardoned his son Hunter, who was facing sentencing after being convicted on gun charges and was on trial for tax evasion.
Additionally, he pardoned about 2,500 individuals convicted of drug-related offenses.
Remaining true to his personal stance against the death penalty, he commuted the sentences of those on federal death row.
In December, Biden granted pardons to around 1,500 individuals convicted of non-violent crimes, including four Indian Americans.
