Biden pardons Fauci and Milley in an effort to guard against potential 'revenge' by Trump

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: AP

Updated 7:22 AM EST, January 20, 2025


WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Joe Biden has pardoned Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired Gen. Mark Milley and members of the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, using the extraordinary powers of his office in his final hours to guard against potential "revenge" by the incoming Trump administration.

The decision by Biden comes after Donald Trump warned of an enemies list filled with those who have crossed him politically or sought to hold him accountable for his attempt to overturn his 2020 election loss and his role in the storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Trump has selected Cabinet nominees who backed his election lies and who have pledged to punish those involved in efforts to investigate him.

"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."

It's customary for a president to grant clemency at the end of his term, but those acts of mercy are usually offered to everyday Americans who have been convicted of crimes. But Biden has used the power in the broadest and most untested way possible: to pardon those who have not even been investigated yet. And with the acceptance comes a tacit admission of guilt or wrongdoing, even though those who have been pardoned have not been formally accused of any crimes.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/biden-trump-fauci-milley-pardons-january-6-3cba287f89051513fb48d7ae700ae747

---

White House STATEMENT - Statement from President Joe Biden

The White House

January 20, 2025

Statement from President Joe Biden

Home Briefing Room Statements and Releases


Our nation relies on dedicated, selfless public servants every day. They are the lifeblood of our democracy.

Yet alarmingly, public servants have been subjected to ongoing threats and intimidation for faithfully discharging their duties.

In certain cases, some have even been threatened with criminal prosecutions, including General Mark A. Milley, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, and the members and staff of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol. These public servants have served our nation with honor and distinction and do not deserve to be the targets of unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions.

General Milley served our nation for more than 40 years, serving in multiple command and leadership posts and deploying to some of the most dangerous parts of the world to protect and defend democracy. As Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he guided our Armed Forces through complex global security threats and strengthened our existing alliances while forging new ones.

For more than half a century, Dr. Fauci served our country. He saved countless lives by managing the government’s response to pressing health crises, including HIV/AIDS, as well as the Ebola and Zika viruses. During his tenure as my Chief Medical Advisor, he helped the country tackle a once-in-a-century pandemic. The United States is safer and healthier because of him.

On January 6, 2021, American democracy was tested when a mob of insurrectionists attacked the Capitol in an attempt to overturn a fair and free election by force and violence. In light of the significance of that day, Congress established the bipartisan Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol to investigate and report upon the facts, circumstances, and causes of the insurrection. The Select Committee fulfilled this mission with integrity and a commitment to discovering the truth. Rather than accept accountability, those who perpetrated the January 6th attack have taken every opportunity to undermine and intimidate those who participated in the Select Committee in an attempt to rewrite history, erase the stain of January 6th for partisan gain, and seek revenge, including by threatening criminal prosecutions.

I believe in the rule of law, and I am optimistic that the strength of our legal institutions will ultimately prevail over politics. But these are exceptional circumstances, and I cannot in good conscience do nothing. Baseless and politically motivated investigations wreak havoc on the lives, safety, and financial security of targeted individuals and their families. 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.

That is why I am exercising my authority under the Constitution to pardon General Mark A. Milley, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the Members of Congress and staff who served on the Select Committee, and the U.S. Capitol and D.C. Metropolitan police officers who testified before the Select Committee. 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. Our nation owes these public servants a debt of gratitude for their tireless commitment to our country.

###

[Mike Nelson]

1. Good...

... but it's difficult to believe we have reached a point where this is necessary.

[Joinfortmill]

20. We're in it now.

[DENVERPOPS]

120. In all honesty

The “Media” has seemed to forget, that the same day HW took office, after Reagan, he immediately pardoned over a hundred of Reagan’s administration who were actually indicted on serious charges, and who were actually truly guilty of MAJOR crimes. Some, I think, included for what were many acts of actual TREASON……

[3Hotdogs]

2. Unfortunately, he didn't pardon Leonard Peltier.

[ananda]

105. He commuted Peltier's life sentence.

...

[3Hotdogs]

126. Yes. Posted on DU, about an hour after my post.

[whathehell]

4. Good!

[FloridaBlues]

5. I was hoping he would do these pardons.

[Katinfl]

7. Read the statement from President Biden.

[Seeking Serenity]

10. If there's no even hint that there was a crime committed, then what are they being pardoned for?

Do we give out blanket, non-specific pardons just to prevent criminal investigation/charges or whatever?

Treading new, potentially dangerous ground here, IMO

[Lochloosa]

17. It's not "new" ground. Nixon was given a preemptive pardon for the "good of the country".

He was never charged with a crime.

[CaptainTruth]

95. And Nixon lead to the 1973 OLC presidential immunity memo...

...saying a sitting president can't be criminally prosecuted, which became DOJ policy & practice for the next 50+ years, until SCOTUS made it "official."

[tanyev]

27. Because the incoming regime has made it clear they will manufacture criminal charges against these people.

And because the justice system can no longer be trusted to throw those charges out as the nonsense they most certainly will be.

[thesquanderer]

56. Pardoning people who are under threat of legal action even though they have done nothing wrong...

...is, I'd say, less questionable than pardoning people who have indeed probably acted criminally (e.g. Steve Bannon, among numerous other questionable pardons and clemencies provided by presidents in the past).

[Raven123]

62. IN THIS ENVIRONMENT the answer is yes

Biden is doing the only decent thing he can to protect these public servants from the abuse of power to come.

[JohnSJ]

71. Yes you do when you have a sociopath who has threatened revenge against those he views as "enemies".

[Lochloosa]

9. Those are BS questions, and you should delete them. Try reading the article to get your answer.

[Seeking Serenity]

13. I did. And i won't because the questions are still relevant, that statement notwithstanding

[Lochloosa]

16. Read it how you want then. I'm done.

“These are exceptional circumstances, and I cannot in good conscience do nothing,” Biden said, adding that “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.”

[JohnSJ]

72. Thank-you.

[BumRushDaShow]

11. Since the "modern" media has decided to allow the re-writing of government functioning

I.e., they insist

that "DOGE" is somehow a real Department

a President can shut down an agency or eliminate an entire Department at the stroke of a pen

a President can "declassify" classified documents with a thought

then a "pardon" can be anything we say it is.

[Seeking Serenity]

15. Ok. Wheee. Let's chuck all the toys out and enter that brave new world.

This will come back to bite us in the ass. We won't like where this heads.

[BumRushDaShow]

30. Not necessarily

Sometimes one has to stand up to the bully and human nature shows that people tend to gravitate towards those who are willing to "fight" however they can.

Continuing to "turn the other cheek" hasn't worked although we know that WE still have empathy and they have none.

[sop]

57. Ok, let's do that.

Your objections are based on a reality that no longer exists.

[muriel_volestrangler]

74. "Us"? You're part of the Biden administration, then?

Let's face it, one lesson of the past 10 years is that nothing comes back to bite a politician in the ass. Trump is a criminal, a sexual abuser, and he tried to overthrow the US government, and yet millions of idiots re-elected him. Doing a necessary move to protect innocent people from him will not bit anyone in the ass.

[Joinfortmill]

21. No. He's saving them. Walk in their shoes for a moment

[Blues Heron]

32. no, its necessary because of the sick fuck coming in to persecute them/rewrite history.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

33. "So...." Usually means bullshit is to follow

And this post is no exception.

Accepting a pardon is not an admission of guilt.

[RegexReader]

117. but try

explaining that to the average person. This confirms everything that has been said about them.

[FarPoint]

55. Critical thinking skills will be necessary to comprehend this decision.

These fine heroes need protection from the beast.

[COL Mustard]

8. I'm glad he did

Now, what about Cheney, Kinzinger and the rest of the January 6 investigation?

[Lochloosa]

12. From the article.

Biden is also extending pardons to members and staff of the Jan. 6 committee, including former Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, both Republicans, as well as the U.S. Capitol and D.C. Metropolitan police officers who testified before the committee.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

58. I hope Lieutenant Byrd is on the list. Otherwise he'll be up on murder charges in 30 days.

[beyondtimes]

14. They are part of

The jan 6 comittee so yes cheney and kinziger would be included.

[BumRushDaShow]

25. They were included

along with the Capitol Police who testified. From the article -

Biden is also extending pardons to members and staff of the Jan. 6 committee, including former Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, both Republicans, as well as the U.S. Capitol and D.C. Metropolitan police officers who testified before the committee.

I would add a link to the pardon text but I haven't found it yet (it hadn't been uploaded to Whitehouse.gov that is about to shut down today anyway).

[thesquanderer]

106. But what about others who testified against him? Cassidy Hutchinson, Alexander Vindman...

Trump's enemies list is long.

[BumRushDaShow]

118. There were A LOT of people who testified

including my (PA's) current Secretary of State and former (R) Philadelphia City Commissioner - Al Schmidt.


Al Schmidt testifying in front of the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol in June 2022

Some were there under subpoena too.

I think he was trying to cover the Committee, their staff, and the LEO who were impacted and became surrogates in support of the Committee's work. Those LEO were actually the very first ones to testify at the Committee's inaugural hearing, a month after the Committee came into existence, after which the Committee didn't have another hearing for almost a year..

[Joinfortmill]

18. We're in it now. Be Brave. Resist. Change the channel today.

[Topomi]

19. Sickening

Too protect people from being harassed for their government service. How much do you think lawyering up would cost? Thanks Joe.

[surfered]

22. I don't disagree, but the pardons will provide a basis for GOP propaganda that they did something wrong.

[WestMichRad]

26. And it provides a precedent for...

… them (GOPers) pardoning EVERYONE in and associated with their administration who might come under investigation for malfeasance in the future.

[surfered]

29. Sadly, yes. Strange times

[maxrandb]

46. As if "precedent" matters one-flying-eff to Donnie Dipshit and the MAGAts

[MadameButterfly]

83. They would do it anyway

Just like the fillibuster. Which was protected only so long as Democrats needed it and now it will be removed so a Republican Senate can do as it likes.

They don't need a precedent to wreak their havoc. They will use this, but without it they would just make something up.

[Ohioboy]

28. Sad when you have to pardon people who have done nothing wrong

These pardons will be used for propaganda, no matter how well Biden worded his statement.

[Hope22]

36. The Magas have already said multiple times that these people have broken the law!

It’s not a guess that they will. T already said he would!! Many more people who were just doing there jobs will be in line for prison.

[travelingthrulife]

82. They are doing that anyway. These people are not mentally well.

These people fought hard for us and they deserve protection from MAGA nutballs.

[emulatorloo]

86. And? Republicans lie about everything. They constantly take stuff out of context and engage in

what I’ve called “willful misinterpretation.”

[DownriverDem]

23. Thank you President Biden!

trump is hell bent on revenge. Sick man for a sick country.

[Seeking Serenity]

24. Fuck this shit. I'm done.

[Paladin]

43. Promise? (nt)

[FakeNoose]

127. Congrats! You've just earned a spot on my "ignore" list

[bucolic_frolic]

31. SCOTUS immunity was essentially a pardon of Trump. What's sauce for the goose .... /nt

[tetedur]

34. What's good is bad, what's bad is good. We are in the upside down now.

Joe Biden did what he thought was right and necessary. That's good enough for me.

I understand Steve Bannon called for a military tribunal for Mark Milley. This is the guy that Trump put above the law when he ripped off Trump's own loyalists who sent Bannon money to build a wall and then Bannon put their money in his own pockets.

This is caliber of people who will be in charge of the military and the judicial system in a few hours.

[HereForTheParty]

35. We do lose some of the high ground on this

Yes, our justice system can put people through the ringer. Even when they've done nothing wrong. But that's how we demonstrate they aren't guilty. Instead, we have Joe declaring their innocence in advance and the Trump DOJ invalid, just as Trump declared Joe's DOJ invalid.

I don't think the J6 committee committed any crimes. The J6 insurrectionists did plenty. But we trust our justice system to sort that out.

[Hope22]

40. Do we? Have they?

Why is a 33 year old going to go to jail for stealing one document and an X president driving off with a truck full of documents justified? We don’t have rule of law. We have a maniac with immunity and our national secrets have been released to ‘our enimies’!

[Hope22]

52. Good luck out here....

….hope you had a nice visit!

[Rainman4u2C]

59. If so then so be it.

If saying what's true but unpopular is frowned upon gets banishment then we are no better than the other side!

[Bernardo de La Paz]

65. Only one word was true in your post. The rest were lies and distortions

And an elderly man with a poor memory former Vice President with a garage full of the same? We are all being played for fools by both sides!! There is no justice for government, only us lowly citizens and these pardons prove that.

The only true word is "elderly". The rest are lies and distortions.

[Rainman4u2C]

68. ?

I didn't say it, Hur did in his report.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

70. Cases not comparable. As to memory Hur lied and distorted about that

Biden: careless, not even semi-public area, immediate admission and cooperation.

tRump: intentional, semi-public areas, continuous denial and obfuscation, continuous blockage and refusal to cooperate.

NOT FUCKING COMPARABLE!



Just stop pushing reich wing lies and distortions.

[MadameButterfly]

88. Which is why that post was removed

It repeats right wing talking points and claims Republicans and Democrats are the same

[Hope22]

61. President Biden did not have a garage full of documents.

Presidential immunity says it all and the court gave that to your fearless leader. What are you complaining about. If you need a pardon I’m sure you can get one. The rest of the J6 clowns are ready to walk free!Fox is not your friend!

[niyad]

63. I was not aware that pence has a poor memory.

[niyad]

67. Our obviously-fucked-up multi-tiered justice system? The opus dei/federalist

extreme court? aileen cannon? kaszmarack? THAT justice system? The one TRAITOR**/RAPIST/FELON34 has been using to his advantage, and to fuck everyine ekse over his entIre life? THAT justice system? The one that women have been told since the 70's would protect them, no ERA needed? THAT justice system?

YOU may trust that system. I certainly do not.

[travelingthrulife]

85. Why should they have to endure that when there is zero evidence of wrongdoing?

[Bluetus]

87. It is up to every DEM to use this as a conversation starter

Last edited Mon Jan 20, 2025, 01:08 PM - Edit history (1)

This subject ALLOWS us to take the high ground. But Dems have to get out there and fight hard for the issue, rather than just hang out in their bunkers for 4 years.

This was a NECESSARY step because of the fascism that Trump, Musk and the cabinet of billionaires are visiting upon OUR COUNTRY.

The fact that your first impression was one of losing the engagement speaks volumes about how lousy today's Dems are at engaging in PR. THAT MUST CHANGE.

[MadameButterfly]

90. I don't know the extent of the pardons, but I fear not enough

Time will justify the existing pardons and regret there were not more

[Bluetus]

114. It was fairly broad, but I would have preferred something more expansive

It protects anybody on the Special Committee, and people who testified. But it should have included everybody on Patel's enemies list by name, because that would have given us a better starting point for making the case that this was a necessary response to the threat of unlawful persecution of innocent people.

[MadameButterfly]

124. I agree. But grateful that people who testified are included

Thanks for the update

[HereForTheParty]

91. We're mirroring what they did

You can't put your faith into our system of justice only when the other guys are being charged. Pardoning someone because they're innocent is a really strange argument to make.

[Bluetus]

113. I categorically reject the Michelle Obama doctrine

This is no time to bring a white paper to a machine gun fight.

[rawhideal]

37. Sorry

Sorry asses in congress going to try BS....

[Wiz Imp]

38. Shameful spin from the AP.

They say:

And with the acceptance comes a tacit admission of guilt or wrongdoing, even though those who have been pardoned have not been formally accused of any crimes.

But earlier in the article they mention Biden's explicit statement:

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.”

So Biden explicitly says their is no admission of wrongdoing but the AP ignores that and says there is tacit admission of guilt. Bullshit. When the Pardon statement explicitly say there is no admission of wrongdoing, then that means there is no admission of wrongdoing, tacit or otherwise.

Who cares how Republicans try to spin it. They are the ones who want to throw people in jail for doing there jobs and not doing anything wrong. Republicans will complain regardless so their reaction should be taken as meaningless.

[Hope22]

41. Reminder to never pardon the press........

[SCantiGOP]

81. Those aren't contradictory statements

The first is baked into the legal history of the pardon process; the second statement is what Biden said about this particular occasion.

[Wiz Imp]

93. Um yes they are.

When the pardon itself says it is not an admission of guilt, saying otherwise (just because people have traditionally thought that way) does not change that fact.

And the 10th circuit court of appeals in 2021 ruled that acceptance of a presidential pardon does not constitute admission of guilt.

Also, just a couple days ago, AP published an article on Trump's promised pardons of Jan 6 insurrectionists and made absolutely no mention of the accepting a pardon would be an admission of guilt. Clearly today's article was biased against Biden and those he pardoned.

[JHB]

39. When we're at the point where something like this is needed, then...

...we're also at the point where he'll just ignore it and have a kangaroo court anyway.

[DallasNE]

98. Justice Can't Do It Because The Power Of The Pardon Is Absolute, But Congress

Can open hearings and call witnesses, etc. They can still be drug through the mud and their reputations ruined.

[JHB]

128. Rules are only as effective as their enforecment.

If he feels he can get away with it, his cronies at Justice will do his bidding, and his cronies in the Supreme Court will allow it.

Norms be damned. What does he care about those?

[riversedge]

42. Thank you President Biden.

Link to tweet

[Paladin]

44. Profound thanks, Mr. President. (nt)

[rawhideal]

45. Dr Fauci

Rand Pual pissed he going to try haul Dr Fauci before congress what a sorry asses......

[niyad]

64. I wonder if we could pay aqua buddha's neighbor. . .

[dalton99a]

47. Kick

[Diamond_Dog]

48. I hope this news makes Trump stroke out

[24601]

50. While GEN Milley will be protected from criminal charges, including recall to active duty for a Court Martial, he may

still be subject to reduction in rank, which is an administrative process unaffected by a pardon. The action is taken by their Service Secretary or Secretary of Defense and an officer may be reduced to the highest rank in which they served satisfactorily - a subjective judgment.

[jalan48]

51. The Republicans have been trying to break the government since Reagan. They've finally succeeded.

[travelingthrulife]

89. Since Nixon. That's when the idea of Faux propaganda network was born

[DallasNE]

53. I'm Confused On What Crimes Have Been Committed

In Milley's case it would need to be in a military court, I would think. In Fauci/Cheney cases a Grand Jury would have to be convened and charges stem from that process. With Cheney it is an exclusive function of Congress so there seems to be jurisdiction issue involved. I don't even see how judge shopping gets an indictment so what am I missing?

[BumRushDaShow]

54. What crime(s) was/were Nixon convicted for when Ford pardoned him?

(this is apparently the precedent that has been around for 50 years)

[DallasNE]

94. Yes, But Nixon Crime Was Obvious

Watergate break-in, tape of Nixon directing the operation. There are no obvious crimes here.

[33taw]

73. It is pre-emptive to any sham charge the Trump regime comes up with.

[DallasNE]

96. The Point Is

The lack of faith in the criminal justice system that indictments could even be made. Biden even spoke of the financial ruin this could cause. It shows the vast amount of work that can't even start until Trump is out of office in 4 years. Until then, we are a lawless society.

[33taw]

107. I understand. Biden did the right thing.

[JohnSJ]

75. Really. Perhaps you are not aware of those judges appointed by trump who are ruling against Mifepristone, or

judges like Canon who are doing things that are NOT based in law.

[tulipsandroses]

60. Good. I'm fine with it. This ain't politics as usual! The horse has already left the barn.

We need to do what we have to. This is one of those things.

[AllaN01Bear]

66. good on joe, his last offical act. but i have woken up in a bad dream for the next 4 years .:(

[AkFemDem]

69. Doubt this happened in a vacuum- Trump admin likely given a wink and heads up

This, in effect, lets him off the hook too because he doesn't have to follow through with his audacious threats to persecute these individuals and no doubt lose in the courts and it also gives him some handy dandy precedence to hang in his closet for 4 years from now for his criminal co-conspirators and family members. I expect to hear some blustering, and then nothing about this again until 2029 when he's headed out the door, when we'll see a new record number of preemptive pardons.

The Biden admin ends their tenure of service looking like heroes to the base, Trump avoids having to waste time/money on fruitless prosecutions, a bunch of Important People in DC feel safe from the incoming admin, a bunch of other Important People in DC who will be ON the incoming admin feel safer now from the next admin. The Powers That Be are all the winningest winning winners.

[fshrink]

76. And it's going to get ugly.

We are about to see what narcissistic rage driven vengeance looks like.
That's what this whole charade is about. Since 2016.

[Jit423]

77. If you are NOT on Trump's hit list...

STFU about this being a wrong move by Biden!

[underpants]

78. A big glorious 🖕

[Jarqui]

79. I do not fault Biden nor the people Biden pardoned

The vindictive felon gave him no choice.
Hopefully, some day, the United States will be a country that adheres to the rule of law and not the whims of a thug.

[SomewhereInTheMiddle]

92. We all seem to be assuming that Trump will honor the pardons ...

What if he doesn't?

Sure, there is no mechanism for ignoring a presidential pardon (except state crimes). But that does not mean that Trump and his followers will not create an "Unpardon" power for the president out of whole cloth.

The power to pardon obviously includes the power to revoke pardons. They are almost identical, and you cannot really have one without the other (or some such bullshit)

- SC agrees 5-4

This is going into worst case scenario territory, but I fear for us all.

Stay strong.

[Jarqui]

103. That makes me sick

What did Fauci do but try to help people, etc

Couldn't stand Dick Cheney but I credit his daughter with at least putting the Constitution and country ahead of the felon. And that is going to get punished?

Ditto for Milley

etc, etc, etc.

It won't last. Too many guns in the country.

[LudwigPastorius]

121. Not up to Trump to honor the pardons in the first place.

It would be up to whatever judge is overseeing an attempted indictment, or trial, of these individuals.

Trump can order his AG to go after these people, but those proceedings have to take place under a federal judge who will have full knowledge that the pardons issued today means that they are immune to prosecution for past actions.

[OhioTim]

80. Should Have Pardoned Thousands of People...

Including all Democrats who are mayors of major cities, the entire Jan 6 Committee, all Democrats in congress, and the list goes on and on. We may have seen the last real election in 2024. Trump declares martial law, doesn't leave office or appoints his son or other cronies as president.

[Susan Calvin]

101. This.

A list I found of people he pardoned was way shorter than it should have been.

[BeyondGeography]

84. Love this move

Thank you, Mr. President.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

97. MaddowBlog-Biden issues pre-emptive pardons for potential Trump targets

With just hours remaining, the retiring Democrat issued pardons for Mark Milley, Anthony Fauci and several people related to the Jan. 6 investigation.
https://bsky.app/profile/joy.msnbc.com/post/3lg6ijsjqlk2l

🚨Biden issues pre-emptive pardons for potential Trump targets

With just hours remaining, the retiring Democrat issued pardons for Mark Milley, Anthony Fauci and several people related to the Jan. 6 investigation

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/biden-preemptive-pardons-jan-6-cheney-fauci-milley-rcna188366

For weeks, there's been speculation and White House debate about whether President Joe Biden would issue pre-emptive pardons for those who might be targeted by Donald Trump. As Inauguration Day approached, it appeared that the retiring Democrat had decided not to pursue such an approach.

Those appearances were wrong. With just hours remaining in his term, Biden issued pardons for:

Ret. Gen. Mark Milley
Dr. Anthony Fauci
Members and staffers of the House Jan. 6 committee
Police officers who testified before the Jan. 6 committee

......"Our nation relies on dedicated, selfless public servants every day," the outgoing president said in a written statement, which did not reference his Republican successor by name. "They are the lifeblood of our democracy. Yet alarmingly, public servants have been subjected to ongoing threats and intimidation for faithfully discharging their duties."

"In certain cases, some have even been threatened with criminal prosecutions, including General Mark A. Milley, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, and the members and staff of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol. These public servants have served our nation with honor and distinction and do not deserve to be the targets of unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions."....

"I believe in the rule of law, and I am optimistic that the strength of our legal institutions will ultimately prevail over politics. But these are exceptional circumstances, and I cannot in good conscience do nothing," the outgoing president added in his statement. "Baseless and politically motivated investigations wreak havoc on the lives, safety, and financial security of targeted individuals and their families. 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 concluded, "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. Our nation owes these public servants a debt of gratitude for their tireless commitment to our country."

[drmeow]

99. My understanding is that

this statement "And with the acceptance comes a tacit admission of guilt or wrongdoing, even though those who have been pardoned have not been formally accused of any crimes." is actually not really accurate - but, of course, the lazy pro-fascist corporate media won't make the proper distinction.

[andym]

100. We can call these phantom pardons-- pardons for phantom crimes that never happened

The pardons have to be general to protect against an incoming President with an enemies list. This should help prevent Trump from making the justice department partisan and then using it against his perceived enemies-- although he clearly wants to return to the days of the Andrew Jackson's spoils system, where basically every government job is due partisan favors.

Nixon had an enemies list and used the government against them (IRS for example)-- and Trump may still do the same. The difference was that Nixon's list was secret, not public, because such behavior was considered un-American.

[sop]

102. Aside from what anyone thinks about these pardons, at least Bondi and Patel won't be able to create distractions.

The DOJ and FBi can't spend the next couple of years feeding "Biden investigations and prosecutions" red meat to their horde of rightwing jackals in the media. Bondi and Patel will have to come up with something else to distract corporate media from Trump's failures.

[Figarosmom]

104. GREAT!

Now Jim Jorden will have to waste time and money picking on some other poor souls.

[4catsmom]

108. I appreciate the gesture

but it's a shame he has to pardon innocent people

[totodeinhere]

109. I am so proud of Joe for doing this.

The MAGA world is going ballistic over this. Good for Joe. He was a great president. I know we all wish him the best in his retirement.

[malthaussen]

110. So, we have come to the point of issuing pre-emptive pardons for people who have committed no crimes.

If that isn't a sign of a failed society, I don't know what is.

-- Mal

[totodeinhere]

111. It's too bad that it has come to this. But Joe had no choice.

Turmp forced him into this. All of the innocent people that Turmp threatened need to be protected. Good for President Biden.

[the nelm]

112. Does anyone really think that pardons will stop Trump from continuing...

to trashing and harassing any of these people? It's what such a petty man like thing and bully does.

[RegexReader]

116. nope

with criminal actions off the table, then administrative civil forfeiture will be used to seize their assets.

[RegexReader]

115. Yeah, after Hunter though....

It doesn't look good. There are pix of Hunter with cocaine, and he did buy a pistol while suffering with that addiction cements the idea that he did get away with a felony. There are a lot of people in prison right now for that exact crime. Add in that he was pardoned for not paying a >Million$ in taxes and tax season is now upon us. And the fact that he skated on millions in taxes while the IRS is all up in people's business over $600 sales on eBay. Really not going to sit well with most. May have won this battle but lost the war of public opinion.

However, I'm remembering that the 'Final Solution' was legal in Germany and during the Nuremberg trials that the war criminals cited Martin Luther. So, when you're being loaded into the box cars or shoved into buses to go to some 'work camp'; or strapped into helicopters, just remember that they're going to be pardoned on 19 Jan 2029. And you will be wondering how it came down to this.

Not a good look....

[LudwigPastorius]

119. I notice that Joe didn't pardon Merrick Garland.

Trump just might make him "go through some things".

[KS Toronado]

123. That ought to teach him not to drag his feet

[MichMan]

129. Or Jack Smith n/t

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

122. Absolutely horrifying that he has to do this.

That he would even need to worry it could be necessary. But I support his action 100%.

[KS Toronado]

125. To this day it still amazes me how tsf

got so many of his loyal MAGAts to hate Dr. Fauci for the simple fact that he would not lie for him.
Lie for the Fuhrer or get death threats, reeks of Fascism doesn't it?