Despite earlier cautions from prominent Democrats, including himself, former President Biden granted pardons to Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired Gen. Mark Milley, and members of his own family at the close of his presidency. These actions followed pre-inauguration pardons and a prior pardon for his son, Hunter Biden.
In December, then-Rep. Adam Schiff voiced concerns on ABC's "This Week" about the precedent of preemptive, blanket pardons. Biden's pardons were announced just hours before President Trump's inauguration and included individuals involved with the January 6th select committee investigation. A mere 22 minutes before leaving office, Biden also pardoned several family members, citing relentless political attacks and threats.
Speculation surrounding potential pardons for perceived political adversaries of Trump, such as former Rep. Liz Cheney, had been circulating. Democrats, ranging from former President Bill Clinton to Sen. Amy Klobuchar, had advised against such actions. Clinton, speaking on "The View," expressed reservations about preemptive pardons. Sen. Dick Durbin, in a CNN interview, questioned the scope of such pardons, while Klobuchar openly criticized the concept, referencing the earlier pardon of Hunter Biden.
Biden himself had previously expressed concern about the precedent set by preemptive pardons during a 2020 CNN interview, when there was speculation about Trump potentially pardoning his children and Rudy Giuliani. However, Trump did not issue those pardons.
The pardons issued by Biden drew criticism from figures like Gov. Ron DeSantis, who criticized the pardon of Fauci, linking it to Biden's COVID-19 policies. Fauci, while appreciating the pardon, maintained his innocence. Milley's contentious relationship with Trump was also highlighted, including Milley's prior criticism of Trump and Trump's subsequent responses. The article also mentions Liz Cheney and Bennie Thompson, targets of Trump's criticism, and notes that Biden pardoned Jan. 6 committee staff without naming them specifically.
Biden's statement accompanying the pardons emphasized that they should not be interpreted as an admission of guilt but as recognition of the individuals' service to the country.
