Biden issues preemptive pardons for family members, Trump 'targets'
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Trump, who was sworn in as president on Monday, has often demanded the prosecution of his perceived adversaries since winning the White House in November.
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US Capitol Police Sargeant Aquilino Gonell and Washington Metropolitan Police Department officer Daniel Hodges listen as the House select committee investigating the January 6 attack on the US Capitol holds a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, on October 13, 2022. (AP)
Joe Biden issued preemptive pardons on Monday for persons that his President Donald Trump has allegedly targeted for punishment, including Republican former senator Liz Cheney, Mark Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Anthony Fauci, the White House senior medical advisor.
The pardon applies to all congressmen, including Cheney, who participated on the congressional select committee that examined Trump supporters' storming of the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021, as well as police officers who testified before it.
Trump, who was sworn in as president on Monday, has often demanded the prosecution of his perceived adversaries since winning the White House in November.
Biden hailed public service as the "lifeblood of our democracy" and expressed that they served the nation "with honor and distinction and do not deserve to be the targets of unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions."
Minutes before handing over the office to Trump, Biden pardoned five members of his family, claiming he wished to shield them from "politically-driven probes."
He pardoned his siblings — James Biden, Frank Biden and Valerie Biden Owens — as well as their spouses, John Owens and Sara Biden.
"My family has been subjected to unrelenting attacks and threats, motivated solely by a desire to hurt me — the worst kind of partisan politics," Biden said. "Unfortunately, I have no reason to believe these attacks will end."
Biden pardoned his son Hunter in December, after consistently stating that he would not.
In a statement, Biden commuted Native American activist Leonard Peltier's life term for the 1975 deaths of two FBI agents.
The US Constitution gives a president broad pardon powers for federal offenses. While pardons are typically given to people who have been prosecuted, they can cover conduct that has not resulted in legal proceedings.
"It is disgraceful. Many are guilty of MAJOR CRIMES! DJT," NBC reporter Kristen Welker reported Trump as saying in a text message.
In December, Trump supported a demand for the FBI to investigate Cheney for her role in directing Congress' investigation of the attack. Fauci often battled with Trump during the COVID-19 outbreak, and Trump's followers have continued to criticize the former senior health officer.
He told Reuters that the White House had contacted him about the situation a month ago, but he had not requested the pardon. "I appreciate the president reaching out and trying to protect me from baseless accusations," he added. "I've done nothing wrong and this is no admission of any guilt."
Milley expressed being "deeply grateful" for the pardon. Trump's rivalry with Milley was intense, particularly after the January 6 attack, when Milley reassured China about US stability, prompting Trump to condemn him as treasonous. Milley later took a jab at Trump in his retirement speech, criticizing loyalty to the Constitution over a "wannabe dictator".
In response, Trump insulted Milley, calling him a "moron" and "slow-moving." Milley also labeled Trump "fascist to the core" in a recent book, further escalating tensions. Trump’s allies have targeted Milley for perceived disloyalty, with reports indicating plans to fire military officers linked to him.
Biden lauded Milley and Fauci as long-time public workers who have upheld democracy and saved lives. He stated that the select committee constituted to investigate the Jan. 6 incident carried out its task with honesty, telling reporters there are "exceptional circumstances, and I cannot in good conscience do nothing."
The pardons of Cheney, Milley, and Fauci received quick condemnation from Trump supporters, including US Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, who stated on X that the officials were pardoned "because they are GUILTY OF CRIMES."
Trump preparing to issue pardons for defendants charged in Jan. 6 riot
President Donald Trump is reportedly preparing to issue a series of pardons for individuals convicted in connection with the January 6 Capitol riot.
Two sources familiar with the plans told CNN that the scope of pardons remains unclear but are set to be announced on his first day in office, aligning with Trump’s "long-held promise".
In a similar context, House Speaker Mike Johnson said on “Meet the Press” that Trump and Vice President JD Vance agree “peaceful protesters should be pardoned, but violent criminals should not.”
Meanwhile, ABC News added that Trump also plans to extend full pardons to his supporters who were not charged with engaging in violence on the day.
