President Biden Announces Unprecedented Preemptive Pardons in Final Hours of Presidency
In a stunning move, President Joe Biden announced a batch of preemptive pardons on Monday, just hours before leaving office, for prominent critics of President-elect Donald Trump, members of his own family, and other individuals who have faced intense criticism from the incoming administration.
The pardons were issued to several notable figures, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, Gen. Mark Milley, and members of Congress who served on the committee investigating the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol. Biden’s own family members, including his brothers and sister, were also granted pardons.
The decision is unprecedented in recent presidential history, as it allows Biden to shield several prominent critics of Trump and his family from potential prosecution and retaliation. The move also sets a precedent for future presidents to protect their own allies from criminal prosecution.
Biden acknowledged that the pardons do not connote guilt, saying, "The issuance of these pardons should not be mistaken as an acknowledgment that any individual engaged in any wrongdoing, nor should acceptance be misconstrued as an admission of guilt for any offense."
The decision comes after Trump vowed to appoint a special prosecutor to "go after" Biden and his family, a move that reportedly drove Biden to take action. The outgoing president expressed concerns about the potential for his family to face baseless and politically motivated investigations, which could irreparably damage their reputations and financial security.
Multiple members of Congress who served on the committee investigating the Capitol attack were left stunned, having received no prior notice of the pardons. The move has been met with both criticism and praise, with some seeing it as a necessary protection and others viewing it as an abuse of power.
The decision has also drawn skepticism from some experts, who fear that it could create a slippery slope, allowing future presidents to use the power to shield their own allies from prosecution.