Biden’s Last-Minute Bombshell: Pardons Fauci, Milley, and Jan 6 Investigators to Block Trump’s ‘Retribution’
On Monday, U.S. President Joe Biden issued pre-emptive pardons for former Covid-19 advisor Anthony Fauci and retired general Mark Milley, aiming to protect them from potential “politically motivated prosecutions” under Donald Trump’s incoming administration.
In a surprising decision during his final hours in office, Biden extended similar pardons to members, staff, and witnesses of the House committee investigating the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack by Trump supporters.
“I have faith in the rule of law and trust our legal institutions will withstand political interference,” Biden stated. “However, these unique circumstances demand action to prevent unjust prosecutions targeting individuals who served this nation with honor.”
Trump, set to take office as the 47th president, has vowed “retribution” against political opponents, threatening criminal charges against several.
Fauci and Milley Respond
Fauci, who led pandemic efforts during Trump’s first term, has faced sharp criticism from conservatives, including Trump ally Elon Musk, who has called for his prosecution. Fauci expressed gratitude for Biden’s pardon, emphasizing, “I have committed no crime.”
Milley, the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also thanked Biden, noting, “I wish to spend my remaining years free from unjust retribution.”
Trump’s animosity toward Milley intensified after revelations that Milley privately called a Chinese official post-Capitol attack to assure stability in U.S.-China relations. Milley also described Trump as “fascist to the core,” further angering the former president, who claimed such actions once warranted “death.”
January 6 Committee Members Included
The pardons cover figures like Liz Cheney, a Republican and vocal Trump critic, and Adam Schiff, a Democratic senator who initially opposed blanket pardons. In December, Schiff argued such moves could be misconstrued.
In his statement, Biden clarified, “These pardons are not admissions of guilt nor indications of wrongdoing but protect individuals from baseless investigations that disrupt lives and families.”
Biden’s Final Pardons
This action follows a series of pardons and clemencies Biden issued in his last days, including commuting sentences for over 2,500 individuals and pardoning his son, Hunter Biden. Trump, meanwhile, has promised to pardon January 6 defendants, whom he calls “political prisoners.”
Biden’s pre-emptive pardons echo Gerald Ford’s 1974 pardon of Richard Nixon after the Watergate scandal, a decision that remains historically significant.
Biden’s Last-Minute Bombshell: Pardons Fauci, Milley, and Jan 6 Investigators to Block Trump’s ‘Retribution’
