In his final act, Biden pardons Fauci and more family members.
Last-Minute Pardons
The Wall Street Journal reports Biden Issues Last-Minute Pardons to Family Members, Fauci
The White House said the president had issued pardons for retired Gen. Mark Milley, Dr. Anthony Fauci and members and staff of the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, as well as police officers who testified before the committee.
In the waning minutes of his presidency—in a statement released as Biden was attending Trump’s inauguration—the White House said the outgoing president had pardoned his sister, Valerie Biden Owens, and her husband John T. Owens, and his two brothers, James B. Biden and Francis W. Biden, along with James Biden’s spouse, Sara Jones Biden.
While past presidents have issued controversial pardons to protect allies and donors, Biden’s moves were unprecedented in sweep.
“I believe in the rule of law, and I am optimistic that the strength of our legal institutions will ultimately prevail over politics,” Biden said. “But these are exceptional circumstances, and I cannot in good conscience do nothing.” He also said that the pardons shouldn’t be seen as an acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
Biden’s decision “risks weaponizing clemency and repurposing it into a shield for political battles,” said Jeffrey Crouch, author of “The Presidential Pardon Power” and an American University professor.
What’s Biden Shielding Them From?
“I wonder what criminal activity Biden is concerned they need a pardon from?” said Sen. Ron Johnson (R., Wis.) on X.
Hypocrisy oozes from Biden’s statememts.