Poli Alert Politics & Civics
Related Articles
In a significant final act as president, Joe Biden issued a series of pardons Monday morning to protect high-profile public servants, including former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and members of the January 6 Select Committee. The move comes in response to threats of criminal prosecution made by President-elect Donald Trump.
“These public servants have served our nation with honor and distinction and do not deserve to be the targets of unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions,” Biden wrote in a statement.
Among those pardoned were Capitol and Metropolitan Police officers who testified before the January 6 committee, including Harry Dunn, Aquilino Gonell, Michael Fanone, and Daniel Hodges, as well as committee members such as Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY).
Biden described the pardons as a preemptive measure to shield these individuals from potential investigations and retribution, emphasizing, “Baseless and politically motivated investigations wreak havoc on the lives, safety, and financial security of targeted individuals and their families.”
Milley and Fauci Respond
Mark Milley, who recently concluded 43 years of military service, expressed gratitude for the pardon, saying, “I do not wish to spend whatever remaining time the Lord grants me fighting those who unjustly might seek retribution for perceived slights. My family and I are deeply grateful for the President’s action today.”
Dr. Anthony Fauci, a key figure in managing the nation’s COVID-19 response, also thanked Biden. “There is absolutely no basis for these threats,” Fauci stated. “The mere articulation of these baseless threats creates immeasurable and intolerable distress for me and my family.”
Trump and Critics React
President-elect Trump condemned the pardons, calling them “disgraceful” in a statement to NBC News, alleging without evidence that “many are guilty of MAJOR CRIMES!”
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), a frequent critic of Fauci, also blasted the pardon. “If there was ever any doubt as to who bears responsibility for the COVID pandemic, Biden’s pardon of Fauci forever seals the deal,” Paul wrote on X. He vowed to continue investigating Fauci despite the pardon.
Upholding Oaths Amid Divisive Times
Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn reflected on the necessity of the pardons, saying, “I, like all of the other public servants, was just doing my job and upholding my oath, and I will always honor that.”
