Mon Jan 20 19:20:00 UTC 2025: **Biden Issues Unprecedented Preemptive Pardons in Final Hours of Presidency**
WASHINGTON — In a stunning move unprecedented in recent presidential history, President Joe Biden issued a sweeping slate of preemptive pardons just hours before leaving office, shielding prominent critics of President-elect Donald Trump, members of his own family, and several key officials from potential future prosecutions under the incoming administration.
The pardons, announced early Monday morning and finalized minutes before Trump’s inauguration, covered a wide range of individuals. They included General Mark Milley, Dr. Anthony Fauci, several members of Congress who served on the January 6th committee, and notably, Biden’s own brothers, sister, and their spouses.
Biden cited the threat of politically motivated reprisals from Trump, who had publicly vowed to pursue investigations into Biden and his family. He defended the decision, stating that baseless investigations can irreparably damage reputations and finances, even when no wrongdoing has occurred. The president emphasized that the pardons were not an admission of guilt by the recipients.
The move sparked immediate controversy. Incoming Trump deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich condemned the pardons as “the greatest attack on America’s justice system in history,” while several former Department of Justice officials expressed skepticism about their effectiveness. While the pardons offer protection from federal criminal charges, they do not shield recipients from congressional investigations or other probes.
Many recipients, including General Milley and Dr. Fauci, expressed gratitude for the preemptive action, citing ongoing threats and intimidation. However, some members of Congress who received pardons were reportedly unaware of the action beforehand.
Legal experts noted that the pardons, while unprecedented in scale, may inadvertently make it easier to compel testimony from those pardoned, as they can no longer invoke the Fifth Amendment.
The decision by President Biden to utilize executive clemency in this manner sets a significant precedent, raising questions about the future use of presidential pardons and the potential for further politicization of the justice system.
First Piper 