In a remarkable decision made just hours before leaving office on Monday, President Joe Biden announced a series of pardons. Those granted clemency include Dr Anthony Fauci, retired General Mark Milley, and members of the January 6 committee.
Biden described the move as a response to what he called “unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions” anticipated from the incoming administration.
Biden emphasised that these pardons should not be interpreted as an admission of guilt by the individuals. He also made it clear that issuing the pardons did not suggest that any wrongdoing had taken place.
In a formal statement, he said, “The issuance of these pardons should not be mistaken as an acknowledgment that any individual engaged in any wrongdoing, nor should acceptance be misconstrued as an admission of guilt for any offence.”
The president cited “exceptional circumstances” as the reason for his decision. He explained that being investigated or prosecuted, even without wrongdoing, could cause irreparable damage to an individual’s reputation and financial stability.
This, he said, made the pardons a necessary step. It remains uncertain whether the incoming administration led by President-elect Donald Trump actually plans to prosecute those pardoned.
Pam Bondi, Trump’s nominee for Attorney General, recently stated that there would be no politically driven prosecutions under her leadership.
However, Trump’s nominee for FBI Director, Kash Patel, has publicly advocated for investigations and potential prosecutions against some of these individuals.
Dr Anthony Fauci, a renowned infectious disease expert at the National Institutes of Health, played a prominent role in managing the United States’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fauci urged people to wear masks and maintain social distancing to combat the spread of the virus.
However, some Trump allies accused him of concealing the true origins of COVID-19. Trump himself had referred to Fauci as a “disaster,” and congressional Republicans launched investigations into his actions during the pandemic.
General Mark Milley, who served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during Trump’s presidency, also found himself targeted. Milley, known for his outspoken criticism of Trump, once labelled the former president as “fascist to the core” in a book by journalist Bob Woodward. Trump has publicly suggested that Milley should face execution.
Biden also extended his pardons to members of the January 6 committee, along with law enforcement officials who testified before it. These individuals played critical roles in investigating the 2021 attack on the US Capitol by Trump supporters.
In his statement, Biden highlighted the courage of those involved in the committee’s work. He accused those responsible for the January 6 attack of attempting to rewrite history and intimidate the committee members to avoid accountability.
He added that these individuals had faced threats of criminal prosecution and other forms of revenge for shedding light on the insurrection.
“Rather than accept accountability, those who perpetrated the January 6th attack have taken every opportunity to undermine and intimidate those who participated in the Select Committee,” Biden said. He also criticised efforts to erase the significance of the insurrection for political gain.
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