Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, immunologist Anthony Fauci and former Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley are among those who have offered protection.
Former United States President Joe Biden used his final hours to issue preemptive pardons amid fears that President Donald Trump might seek prosecution of perceived enemies.
On Monday, Biden granted pardons to several members of his own family, as well as former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, former White House chief medical adviser Anthony Fauci and former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley.
The move came after Trump warned of an enemies list filled with those who politically deceived him or wanted to hold him accountable for his bid to overturn his 2020 election defeat and his role in you storm the US Capitol four years ago.
“These public servants have served our nation with honor and distinction and do not deserve to be the targets of unjustified and politically motivated prosecution,” Biden said in a statement.
The US Constitution gives the president a broad mandate powers of pardon for federal offenses. Although pardons are usually granted to people who have been prosecuted, they can cover conduct that has not yet resulted in legal proceedings.
The pardon applies to all lawmakers, including Cheney, who served on a congressional committee investigating the 2021 Capitol riots, as well as police officers who testified before it.
In December, Trump backed a call for the FBI to investigate Cheney for her role in leading the congressional investigation into the attacks.
‘Deeply grateful’
Cheney and Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson, the committee’s vice chairmen, expressed gratitude to Biden for recognizing the threats and harassment they and their families have endured.
“Today we received a pardon not for breaking the law, but for keeping it,” they said in a statement.
Milley, who served as Trump’s top military adviser between 2019 and early 2021, said in a statement that he was “deeply grateful” for Biden’s pardon.
After the January 6 attack on the Capitol, Milley called Beijing to reassure China of US stability.
In a social media post, Trump described the phone call as “an act so outrageous that, in times past, the punishment would have been DEATH.”
Fauci told the Reuters news agency that the White House approached him about this a month ago. He stated that he did not ask for a pardon.
“I appreciate the president reaching out and trying to protect me from baseless accusations,” Fauci said. “I did nothing wrong and this is not an admission of guilt.”
Fauci has frequently clashed with Trump during the pandemic, and his supporters have continued to attack the former health official.
Family pardoned
Among other members of his family, Biden also issued preemptive pardons to his brothers James and Francis; sister Valerie and her husband John; and Sarah, wife of James.
In December, Biden controversially betrayed forgiveness for your son Hunterwho was convicted of firearms and tax charges, claiming he was being persecuted for political purposes.
“My family has been subjected to relentless attacks and threats, motivated solely by the desire to hurt me — the worst kind of partisan politics,” Biden said in a statement. “Unfortunately, I have no reason to believe these attacks will stop.”
Trump condemned the move in an address to supporters. “Did you know that while I was giving my speech, Biden pardoned his entire family?” Trump said.
During a separate call with reporters, Trump accused Biden of setting an “unbelievable precedent” for future presidents.
“I guess now I have a precedent for that,” Trump said.
