Biden preemptively pardons, Fauci, Milley before Trump takes office 

Fauci and Milley have been criticized for their respective roles in the COVID-19 pandemic response and the withdrawal from Afghanistan.

President Joe Biden issued preemptive pardons to potential targets of the incoming Trump administration, including notable figures like Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired Gen. Mark Milley, and lawmakers who served on the House Jan. 6 Committee, in the final hours before Donald Trump’s inauguration.

What he’s saying: Biden justified the pardons by stating that public servants play a crucial role in maintaining democracy and have faced ongoing threats and intimidation while faithfully carrying out their duties, especially amidst possible retribution promised by Trump during his 2024 campaign.

  • “Our nation relies on dedicated, selfless public servants every day. They are the lifeblood of our democracy,” Biden said in a statement. “Yet alarmingly, public servants have been subjected to ongoing threats and intimidation for faithfully discharging their duties.” 

The big picture: The preemptive pardons aimed to protect individuals like Milley, a target of Republican criticism over troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, and Fauci, who faced backlash for the government’s pandemic response, from potential legal repercussions in light of political vendettas.

  • The decision to issue these preemptive pardons came after Biden’s earlier full pardon for his son, Hunter Biden, indicating a strategic move to shield key figures in the face of looming political threats and uncertainties.
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