Who else might Biden pardon after he spared Hunter from sentencing?
FOX NewsNOV 25 2024
Reports: Biden Admin. Weighs Preemptive Pardons Ahead of Trump Presidency
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The 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.
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.
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.
The Spin
Republican narrative
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
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.