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President Biden has announced that he is considering granting preemptive pardons to individuals who may face political retaliation under the incoming Trump administration, including prominent figures such as former Representative Liz Cheney and Dr. Anthony Fauci.
Some shit you should know before you read: In early December, President Biden pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, following his conviction on felony gun and tax charges, a move that sparked widespread condemnation on both sides of the political aisle. This ultimately led to speculation about whether he might extend clemency to others. Rumors quickly grew that Biden was considering preemptive pardons for figures such as Liz Cheney, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Former General Mark Milley, and members of the January 6 committee, who might face “retaliation” from President-elect Donald Trump. This speculation intensified amid reports that Biden’s team had quietly evaluated how to protect individuals at risk of political targeting. Trump, in response, accused Biden of “weaponizing” the Justice Department against him while using the pardon process to shield his own allies.
What’s going on now: During an interview with USA Today, President Biden revealed that he is considering granting preemptive pardons to individuals who might become targets of “political retribution” under the incoming Trump administration. Biden specifically mentioned Liz Cheney, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and members of the January 6 committee, stating, “I think there are certain people like, if he were to, I don’t want to name their names,” before asking to go off the record. He acknowledged the the pardons would depend on “who he puts in what positions.”
Biden also shared details of his post-election Oval Office meeting with Trump, explaining that he urged the president-elect not to “try to settle scores” and to avoid actions that would be “counterintuitive.”
This all comes as some of President-elect Donald Trump’s nominees for key positions, including Kash Patel, have made statements suggesting potential plans to target individuals close to President Biden. Patel, a former Trump administration official and staunch loyalist, has previously spoken about dismantling what he calls the “deep state” and hinted at pursuing legal action against figures close to President Biden. These remarks have raised alarms among Democrats, who fear Trump’s appointments could use their positions to retaliate against them. However, Trump’s team has dismissed these concerns, arguing that President-elect Donald Trump himself was subjected to political weaponization by the DOJ under President Biden.
