Biden Weighs Preemptive Pardons Amid Political Tensions

Clear Facts

• President Joe Biden is considering preemptive pardons for Dr. Anthony Fauci and former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney.
• Biden’s decision on the pardons depends on the appointments President-elect Donald Trump makes to his cabinet.
• A House Oversight Committee report revealed that Fauci’s former aide deleted emails to evade FOIA requests and suggested using private email for government business.

In a recent interview, President Joe Biden revealed that he is contemplating granting preemptive pardons to Dr. Anthony Fauci and former Republican Representative Liz Cheney. This consideration comes in the wake of Biden’s controversial decision to pardon his son, Hunter, despite previous assertions that he would not do so.

Biden has expressed concern over potential actions by President-elect Donald Trump, who may target individuals like Fauci, Cheney, and Democratic California Senator Adam Schiff. However, Biden has yet to make a definitive decision on the pardons, stating that his choice will hinge on who Trump appoints to key positions in his administration.

“Well, a little bit of it depends on who he puts in what positions,” Biden explained. He recounted his initial meeting with Trump, saying, “I was very straightforward with Trump when he got elected. I invited him immediately to the White House. I spent two hours with him.”

During this meeting, Biden noted that Trump was complimentary about some of his economic policies and seemed to acknowledge the positive aspects of his record. Biden attempted to dissuade Trump from pursuing a path of retribution, suggesting it would not be in his best interest.

“He talked about, he was very complimentary about some of the economic things I had done. And he talked about − he thought I was leaving with a good record, kind of thing,” Biden added.

When asked if Trump had provided any indication of his plans once in office, Biden admitted that Trump “just basically listened” without offering a clear answer. As Biden continues to evaluate the situation, he remains noncommittal on the issue of pardons.

“Well, no, I have not,” Biden responded when pressed on whether he had reached a decision. He mentioned that there are individuals he is considering for more traditional pardons, though he refrained from naming them specifically.

Meanwhile, a May 2024 report from the House Oversight Committee has cast a shadow over Dr. Fauci. The report uncovered that David Morens, a former senior adviser to Fauci, engaged in activities to circumvent Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. Morens allegedly deleted emails and instructed others to contact him via personal email to avoid official scrutiny.

“This is very illegal,” stated Matthew Hardin, a lawyer specializing in FOIA-related issues. He emphasized the importance of preserving agency records, noting that conducting government business through private channels still constitutes the creation of federal records.

As Biden weighs his options, the potential pardoning of Fauci and others remains a contentious issue, particularly in light of the legal implications highlighted by the House report.

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