Biden Issues Last-Minute Pardons For Fauci, Mark Milley, And Jan 6 Committee
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.
At the end of the first Trump administration, Milley reportedly made secret calls to China, where he promised to warn Gen. Li Zuocheng of the People’s Liberation Army if Trump ordered a preemptive strike on China. In a statement after the pardons were announced, Milley said he was “deeply grateful for the President’s action today.”
“After forty-three years of faithful service in uniform to our Nation, protecting and defending the Constitution, I do not wish to spend whatever remaining time the Lord grants me fighting those who unjustly might seek retribution for perceived slights,” he said. “I do not want to put my family, my friends, and those with whom I served through the resulting distraction, expense, and anxiety.”
The January 6 Committee members receiving a pardon include former representatives Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, the only Republican members. Both Cheney and Kinzinger were harsh critics of Trump and voted to impeach him over the January 6 riot. Additionally, the pardon applied to “U.S. Capitol and D.C. Metropolitan police officers who testified before the Select Committee.”
“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.”
CELEBRATE #47 WITH 47% OFF DAILYWIRE+ MEMBERSHIPS + A FREE $20 GIFT
Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) ripped into Biden over the pardons, saying they were unconstitutional.
“The guy who claimed he would ‘protect norms’ continues to bulldoze them and the Constitution until the bitter end. Biden truly is one of the worst Presidents in American history and will only be remembered as the guy between Trump’s two terms,” he posted on X. “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.
This is a breaking story. Refresh the page for updates.