Reports: Biden Admin. Weighs Preemptive Pardons Ahead of Trump Presidency

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Facts

  • The Biden administration is reportedly conducting internal discussions about issuing preemptive pardons to protect various public officials from potential prosecution under a future Trump administration, with talks led by White House counsel Ed Siskel and chief of staff Jeff Zients.[1]
  • Key figures being considered for pardons include current California US representative and Sen.-elect Adam Schiff, former US Rep. Liz Cheney, and former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) director Dr. Anthony Fauci. Pres. Joe Biden, however, has reportedly not been involved directly in the discussions.[2][3]
  • The discussions gained momentum after Pres.-elect Donald Trump nominated Kash Patel to lead the FBI, given Patel's public statements about pursuing Trump's critics.[1]
  • According to an NPR investigation, Trump has issued more than 100 threats to investigate, prosecute, or punish his perceived opponents since 2022.[4]
  • Several Democratic lawmakers, including Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and US Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.), support the idea of preemptive pardons, citing the historical precedent of Gerald Ford's pardon of Richard Nixon after the latter's resignation from the presidency.[2]
  • The consideration of preemptive pardons follows the president's recent pardon of his son Hunter Biden for gun crime and tax convictions, which drew criticism from both Republicans and Democrats.[2][5]

Sources: [1]Politico, [2]The Economic Times, [3]Yahoo News, [4]Washington Examiner and [5]The Hill.

Narratives

  • Republican narrative, as provided by New York Post and FOX News. Those who have conducted lawfare against Trump under false pretenses must be held accountable. There'd be no reason for preemptive pardons if no improprieties were committed. If Biden goes through with these pardons he'd also be setting a dangerous precedent for future administrations.
  • Democratic narrative, as provided by MSNBC and Wbur. These pardons are necessary to protect officials and critics who Trump and his nominees have threatened with prosecution. Granting these pardons is crucial for safeguarding democracy and preventing abuse of the justice system, although it'll be difficult to come up with a comprehensive list of candidates to receive them.