Joe Biden has pardoned lockdown chief Anthony Fauci in his final act before Donald Trump takes office. Fauci, 84, was the face of the US government's response to the Covid pandemic. He was the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health for nearly 40 years and Biden's chief medical advisor until his retirement in 2022.
Biden's Unprecedented Pardons
Biden also pardoned General Mark Milley, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and members of the January 6 congressional committee and witnesses. Using the powers of his office in his final hours, he said they "do not deserve to be the targets of unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions". The decision comes after Trump warned of an "enemies list" filled with those who have crossed him politically or tried to hold him accountable for his attempt to overturn his 2020 election loss.
Unusual Pardons in Exceptional Circumstances
Now, Biden has used the power in the most untested way possible to pardon public officials who have not even been investigated yet. He said: "These are exceptional circumstances, and I cannot in good conscience do nothing. 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."
Record-Breaking Pardons
Biden has set the presidential record for most individual pardons and commutations issued. On Friday, he announced he would be commuting the sentences of almost 2,500 people convicted of nonviolent drug offenses. And he previously announced he was commuting the sentences of 37 of the 40 people on federal death row, converting their punishments to life imprisonment.
In his first term, Trump presided over a spate of 13 executions. More to follow...
