President Joe Biden issued pardons on Monday morning to Dr. Anthony Fauci, former U.S. Army General Mark Milley, and members of the Democrat-run January 6 committee just hours before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Both Fauci and Milley were vicious critics of Trump, and previous reporting indicated that Biden would issue the pardons to stave off any potential criminal charges that might be brought against them during a second Trump administration.
“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 offense,” Biden said in a statement. “Our nation owes these public servants a debt of gratitude for their tireless commitment to our country.”
Fauci has been criticized for his handling of COVID and the lab leak theory, as well as comments before Congress about gain-of-function research.
Milley reportedly made secret calls to China at the end of the first Trump administration, where he promised to warn Gen. Li Zuocheng of the People’s Liberation Army if Trump ordered a preemptive strike on China.
“These are exceptional circumstances, and I cannot in good conscience do nothing,” Biden said. “Even when individuals have done nothing wrong — and in fact have done the right thing — and will ultimately be exonerated, the mere fact of being investigated or prosecuted can irreparably damage reputations and finances.”
Biden has previously been criticized for his wide-reaching pardon of his son Hunter, and top Democrats said last year they would oppose preemptive pardons.
“I strongly oppose preemptive pardons. First of all, it’s in some ways going to be perceived as an implicit acknowledgment of guilt,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) said last month. “And people should know that walking into a courtroom and making charges is far from proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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