Biden Pardons Fauci, Milley and Jan 6 Committee Hours Before Trump’s Inauguration
In his final hours as president, Joe Biden issued a series of high-profile pardons on Monday, including clemency for former chief medical advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired General Mark Milley and several members of the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, including Liz Cheney.
The decision, which Biden defended as necessary to protect public servants from “politically motivated prosecutions,” has sparked widespread controversy and criticism.
“I believe in the rule of law, and I am optimistic that the strength of our legal institutions will ultimately prevail over politics,” Biden said in a statement, per the New York Post.
“But these are exceptional circumstances, and I cannot in good conscience do nothing.”
The 82-year-old president described the individuals as “dedicated, selfless public servants” who had faced “ongoing threats and intimidation for faithfully discharging their duties.”
Speculation about potential pardons had swirled for weeks following President-elect Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election, with reports suggesting Biden’s team had urged him to take action.
Fauci, who retired as Biden’s chief medical advisor in 2022, was a prominent figure on the clemency list. Fauci has been accused by Republican lawmakers of lying to Congress about federal funding for gain-of-function research, a controversial practice involving the enhancement of viruses to study their transmissibility.
Investigations found evidence linking federal funds to such research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China. Fauci has consistently denied these allegations, stating his decisions were guided by science.
“It feels good, and I’m grateful to the president for doing it,” Fauci told CNN after the announcement.
However, Fauci’s pardon drew immediate backlash. Trump described the move as “disgraceful.”
“Many are guilty of MAJOR CRIMES!” he told NBC News’ Kristen Welker, according to the outlet.
Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul (R), a vocal critic of the doctor, expressed outrage on social media.
“If there was ever any doubt as to who bears responsibility for the COVID pandemic, Biden’s pardon of Fauci forever seals the deal,” Paul wrote on X, vowing he would “not rest until the entire truth of the coverup is exposed.”
Retired General Mark Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was another high-profile recipient of Biden’s pardons. Milley had faced potential legal challenges under the Trump administration due to his actions during the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and his sharp public criticisms of Trump.
Milley had called Trump a “wannabe dictator” and a “fascist to the core,” statements that drew attention in journalist Bob Woodward’s book.
The pardons also covered members and staff of the House Select Committee on the Jan. 6 attack, who had been the subject of threats and calls for criminal investigations from Trump and his allies. During his campaign, Trump declared that the committee members “should go to jail” for their actions.
Just minutes before Trump’s inauguration, Biden also issued pardons to members of his family.
This controversial wave of clemency follows Biden’s earlier pardon of his son, Hunter Biden, for gun and tax charges, a move that divided Democrats.
“I think preemptive pardons seem to imply guilt,” Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-MA) said at the time, according to The Post.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) echoed this concern, calling the president’s actions “imprudent.”
Amid the controversy, Trump has sought to downplay speculation about retaliatory actions, stating his administration would only act if evidence justified it.
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