According to a new report, President Joe Biden’s aides are discussing whether he should preemptively pardon government officials to protect them from possible inquiries or indictments from the incoming Trump administration.
“White House officials … are carefully weighing the extraordinary step of handing out blanket pardons to those who’ve committed no crimes, both because it could suggest impropriety, only fueling Trump’s criticisms, and because those offered preemptive pardons may reject them,” POLITICO reported.
Names mentioned by POLITICO include members of Congress’ Jan. 6 Committee as well as Sen.-elect Adam Schiff (D-CA), former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY), and Dr. Anthony Fauci.
“The beneficiaries know nothing,” one source insisted to POLITICO.
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Some Democrats in Congress are urging Biden to issue the pardons. Massachusetts hard-Left Senator Ed Markey, attacking Trump, said in late November, “I think that without question, Trump is going to try to act in a dictatorial way, in a fascistic way, in a revengeful first year … towards individuals who he believes harmed him. … If it’s clear by January 19th that [revenge] is his intention, then I would recommend to President Biden that he provide those preemptive pardons to people, because that’s really what our country is going to need next year.”
Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA) said on Wednesday, “This is no hypothetical threat. The time for cautious restraint is over. We must act with urgency to push back against these threats and prevent Trump from abusing his power.”
Earlier this week, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters, “As it relates to pardon- — pardoning or any clemency, the president, as you know, at the end of the year, makes announcements. He’s thinking through that process very thoroughly. There’s a process in place, obviously. And so, once — I’m not going to get ahead of — of the president on this. But you could expect more announcement, more par- — pardons and clemency at the end of — at the end of — at the end of this term.”
Asked how soon those other pardons could come, she answered, “I don’t have a timeline for you. As you know, this usually happens towards the end. And so, the president is going through that process, thinking through that process. I’m not going to get ahead of him. But you can expect more announcements to come.”
