 |
| Joe Biden's recent pardoning of his son Hunter has caused controversy |
Outgoing US President Joe Biden is reportedly considering pre-emptive pardons for prominent critics of his successor, Donald Trump, multiple sources familiar with the matter told CBS, the BBC's US partner.
The move aims to shield these individuals from potential retribution after Trump, who has pledged to take revenge on his opponents, assumes office. While Biden has discussed the possibility with senior White House aides, CBS reports that no specific names have yet been formally recommended to him.
Sources have also told AFP that officials are weighing the broader implications of pardoning individuals who have not been accused or convicted of any crimes. This consideration follows the controversy over Biden’s unconditional pardon of his son, Hunter, who was set to be sentenced this month on federal felony gun and tax charges.
The decision to pardon Hunter has drawn criticism from both Republicans and some Democrats, particularly after Biden had previously stated he would not take such action.
US media reports suggest that individuals potentially in line for pre-emptive pardons from President Joe Biden include Dr. Anthony Fauci, a vocal critic of Donald Trump’s COVID-19 response, and California’s Senator-elect Adam Schiff, who led the first impeachment case against Trump.
Other Democrats involved in Trump’s impeachment trials or the investigation into the January 6th Capitol riots may also be considered. However, Schiff himself has expressed skepticism about the idea. In an NPR interview last month, he dismissed the notion of pre-emptive pardons as unnecessa
ry and unwise, saying, “I would urge the president not to do that. It would seem defensive and unnecessary.”White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre indicated earlier this week that more pardons could be expected from Biden before his term ends in January but did not provide specifics. “He’s thinking through that process very thoroughly,” she said.
CBS reports that traditional presidential pardons may also be granted to nonviolent drug offenders and individuals who have served time for other offenses.
Meanwhile, Trump’s nominee for FBI Director, Kash Patel, has sparked controversy with threats of retribution against politicians and journalists he accuses—without evidence—of overturning the 2020 election. Patel stated, “We’re going to come after you, whether it’s criminally or civilly… We’re putting you all on notice.”
In response, Democratic Congressman Brendan Boyle suggested Biden consider blanket pardons for individuals targeted by what he called Trump’s “enemies list.” Boyle criticized Trump’s choice of Patel, saying, “By choosing Kash Patel as his FBI Director, Trump has shown he is more focused on settling personal scores than on protecting the American people or upholding the rule of law.”
0 Comments