President Biden issued pardons to several high-profile figures, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired Gen. Mark Milley, members of the Jan. 6 Committee, and law enforcement officials who testified before it. The pardons were issued in the final hours of his presidency, citing 'exceptional circumstances' and the potential for reputational damage from ongoing investigations.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, appeared before the House Oversight and Accountability Committee Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic at the Rayburn House Office Building on June 3, 2024, in Washington, D.C. The subcommittee held a hearing to discuss the findings of a fifteen-month Republican-led probe into Fauci and the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a surprising move hours before leaving office on Monday, President Biden announced he was issuing pardons to several individuals, including retired Gen. Mark Milley, Dr. Anthony Fauci, members of Congress and staff who served on the Jan. 6 Committee, and U.S. Capitol and Washington, D.C., police officers who testified before that committee. 'The issuance of these pardons should not be mistaken as an acknowledgment that any individual engaged in any wrongdoing, nor should acceptance be misconstrued as an admission of guilt for any offense,' Biden stated in a press release issued before President-elect Donald Trump took the oath of office. Biden explained that 'exceptional circumstances' prompted the pardons, adding, '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.' It remains unclear if the incoming Trump administration intends to prosecute these individuals. Pam Bondi, Trump's nominee for attorney general, stated during her confirmation hearing last week that there wouldn't be any political prosecutions under her watch. However, Kash Patel, Trump's nominee for FBI director, has called for numerous Trump opponents to be investigated or prosecuted. Fauci played a prominent role in the U.S. response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As an infectious disease specialist at the National Institutes of Health, he advocated for mask-wearing and social distancing, but Trump allies have accused him of concealing the alleged true origins of COVID. Fauci responded to the pardon in a statement, saying, 'Throughout my career, I have been motivated by one simple goal: to improve the health and lives of humankind.' He emphasized that he served under presidents from both parties, from Ronald Reagan to President Biden. 'I believe and hope that my legacy is that of a dedicated and accomplished physician/scientist and public health official who, with the help of many teams of skilled and distinguished colleagues, saved millions of lives in the United States and around the world,' he stated. Milley, who served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during Trump's first term, later labeled Trump as 'fascist to the core.' In his statement, Milley expressed gratitude to the president for the pardon, stating he was relieved to avoid putting family and friends through any potential legal battles. 'After forty-three years of faithful service in uniform to our Nation, protecting and defending the Constitution, I do not wish to spend whatever remaining time the Lord grants me fighting those who unjustly might seek retribution for perceived slights,' he said. Biden defended the actions of the Jan. 6 committee members and law enforcement officials who testified before it, asserting they were fulfilling their duty to shed light on the insurrection attempt by a mob of Trump supporters in 2021. 'Rather than accept accountability, those who perpetrated the January 6th attack have taken every opportunity to undermine and intimidate those who participated in the Select Committee in an attempt to rewrite history, erase the stain of January 6th for partisan gain, and seek revenge, including by threatening criminal prosecutions,' Biden stated.
JOE BIDEN DONALD TRUMP ANTHONY FAUCI MARK MILLEY JANUARY 6 COMMITTEE PARDONS
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