News Brief
Biden Mulls 'Preemptive Pardons' For Anthony Fauci, Liz Cheney And Other High-Profile Officials Amid Fears of Trump-Led Prosecutions
US President Joe Biden.
The Biden administration is actively considering whether to issue preemptive pardons to certain current and former public officials in the government as fears grow over the possibility of politically motivated prosecutions under Donald Trump’s return to the presidency.
This internal discussion follows Trump’s appointment of Kash Patel to lead the FBI, a move perceived as signalling an intent to pursue legal action against the President-elect’s critics and adversaries.
The deliberations, spearheaded by White House counsel Ed Siskel, revolve around shielding individuals who could face scrutiny if Trump regains power.
Among those reportedly being considered for pardons are public figures like US democratic Congressman Adam Schiff, who served on the House Select Committee investigating the 6 January Capitol attack, and former GOP congresswoman Liz Cheney, a vocal critic of Trump, Politico reported.
Also included is Dr Anthony Fauci, the former head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who faced significant backlash from Trump and his allies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The concern stems from Trump’s history of targeting his political opponents and the potential for his administration to initiate investigations into these individuals.
Schiff and Cheney, in particular, were singled out by Trump during his previous tenure, with Trump publicly calling for their imprisonment. Fauci, who became a polarizing figure during the pandemic, also remains a potential target for retribution by Trump loyalists.
Preemptive clemency for people who have not been charged with any crimes could spark political backlash, suggesting guilt or impropriety where none exists.
Some individuals, like Schiff, have expressed discomfort with the idea, as accepting a pardon might imply wrongdoing.
This debate also reflects broader anxieties within the Democratic Party about how far Trump might go in his efforts to exact political revenge.
Legal experts and White House aides fear that even the mere threat of investigations could impose significant financial and emotional burdens on the targets, including legal fees for defending against federal inquiries.
The conversation around pardons is further complicated by recent clemency actions by President Biden, including the pardon of his son, Hunter Biden, for tax-related offences.
