President Biden issued last-minute pardons to several high-profile figures, sparking questions about motives and legality just before leaving office.
Key Facts:
• Dr. Anthony Fauci, Gen. Mark Milley (Ret.), and others linked to January 6 received pardons on Biden’s final day.
• The order covers members of Congress and staff from the January 6 select committee, as well as Capitol and D.C. police who testified.
• Special Counsel Jack Smith, former FBI Director Christopher Wray, and Attorney General Merrick Garland are excluded.
• Senator Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., condemned the pardons, calling Biden one of the worst U.S. Presidents.
The Rest of The Story:
Biden’s decision landed just hours before President-elect Trump’s new inauguration.
Many observers believe the pardons were intended to protect key officials from possible investigations under the returning Trump administration.
Some Republicans argue this move goes beyond traditional presidential pardon powers, while Biden supporters say it is within his constitutional authority.
The omitted individuals—Smith, Wray, and Garland—were rumored to face scrutiny from Trump but received no last-minute reprieve.
Commentary:
Biden’s hasty act shows the worst side of someone who, in my view, acted like a scumbag on his way out the door.
If his allies were innocent, they would not need these pardons, which strongly suggests that everyone involved is guilty of something as serious as treason.
It also raises questions about the legality of preemptive pardons.
Can they hold up in court?
And with Biden’s questionable mental state, there might even be grounds to argue these pardons are invalid altogether.
The Bottom Line:
Biden’s departure is marked by a final burst of controversy, leaving many Americans skeptical about his motives and the validity of these pardons.
Only time will tell if the incoming administration will challenge them.