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

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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.

🚨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.

— The ReidOut with Joy Reid on MSNBC (@joy.msnbc.com) 2025-01-20T13:56:12.223Z

🚨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."