Joe Biden pardons Dr Fauci, Capitol attack panel members to shield them from Donald Trump
The move, leveraging the extraordinary powers of the presidency, aims to protect them from potential "revenge" by the incoming Trump administration
PTC Web Desk: In a bold and unprecedented move, US President Joe Biden issued preemptive pardons on Monday to several prominent figures who have been vocal critics of former President Donald Trump. The pardons aim to shield them from what Joe Biden described as potential "unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions" under the incoming administration.
Among those pardoned are Dr Anthony Fauci, former Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and Biden’s chief medical adviser; retired General Mark Milley, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and members and staff of the House committee that investigated the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol.
The decision was made as President-elect Donald Trump, who is set to be inaugurated later today, has expressed his intent to take action against those who sought to hold him accountable for his role in the Capitol insurrection, where his supporters attempted to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.
Biden issued a statement, saying, "Our nation owes these public servants a debt of gratitude for their tireless commitment to our country. These public servants have served our nation with honor and distinction and do not deserve to be the targets of unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions."
General Milley, who had described Trump as "fascist to the core" and "dangerous," had been a target of Republican criticism, particularly for his comments on Trump’s actions during the January 6 events. Trump had called Milley a "traitor."
Dr Fauci, who played a pivotal role in managing the US response to the Covid-19 pandemic, has faced relentless attacks from the right, especially regarding policies such as mask mandates. Trump had blamed Fauci for pandemic-related measures, accusing him of undermining his administration’s handling of the crisis.
The members of the January 6 committee, including former Representatives Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, both Republicans, were also granted pardons. Trump had previously called for these lawmakers to be jailed for their roles in investigating him and the Capitol riot, which led to the injury of 140 police officers and delayed the certification of the Electoral College votes.
Although none of the individuals pardoned have been charged with crimes, they were believed to be potential targets of Trump’s promised "retribution" during his second term.