In a pre-dawn bombshell move right before leaving office, U.S. President Joe Biden granted pre-emptive pardons to both former COVID-19 advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci and retired General Mark Milley in an effort he said was needed to shield them from “politically motivated prosecutions” coming from the incoming Trump administration.
That step is good for members and staff, and even witnesses who had some kind of activity relating to the House select committee investigating the January 6, 2021, storming of the Capitol encouraged by Donald Trump. In his statement, Biden cited: “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.
With Trump’s swearing-in, he has signaled that he will seek “retribution” against his political enemies-even going so far as to threaten some with criminal charges. Fauci became a high-profile figure in the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic and received considerable pushback from Republican quarters for his frank opinions, making him a target of criticism for figures such as Elon Musk, who has called for his prosecution.
General Milley enraged Trump by stating in an interview that he considered him “fascist to the core” and “the most dangerous person to this country.” After the Capitol attack, Milley called his Chinese counterpart to reassure him of stability in the United States and assured them that no harm would be committed. Trump, meanwhile, attacked the action on social media, citing how such activities have been handled through history: extremely harshly.
The members of the January 6 committee include prominent Trump critic Liz Cheney, a former Republican congresswoman and daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney. Biden said that “baseless and politically motivated investigations wreak havoc on the lives, safety, and financial security of targeted individuals and their families,” underscoring the need for these pardons.
He further clarified that the pardons did not amount to an admission of guilt or acceptance of wrongdoing. Meanwhile, Trump has continued to portray himself as the victim of “lawfare,” citing his own criminal prosecutions over attempts to undo the 2020 election results.
