U.S. President Joe Biden issued pre-emptive pardons on Monday to individuals he believed could face retaliation under Donald Trump’s administration.
Among those pardoned were former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley and former White House chief medical advisor Anthony Fauci.
The pardons also extended to lawmakers who served on the congressional select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack by Trump supporters, as well as police officers who testified before the committee.
Trump, who is set to return to the presidency, has frequently called for the prosecution of his perceived adversaries since his White House victory in November.
Biden, without directly naming Trump, condemned the threats and intimidation faced by public servants, calling them the “lifeblood of our democracy.” He stated that these individuals served the nation with honour and did not deserve politically motivated prosecutions.
“These public servants have served our nation with honour and distinction and do not deserve to be the targets of unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions,” Biden said in a statement.
In December, Trump supported calls for the FBI to investigate fellow Republican Liz Cheney over her leadership role in Congress’s Jan. 6 investigation.
Fauci, who frequently clashed with Trump during the COVID-19 pandemic, has continued to face attacks from Trump’s supporters.
Milley, quoted in Bob Woodward’s recent book War, reportedly referred to Trump as “fascist to the core,” prompting criticism and accusations of disloyalty from Trump’s allies.
In November, Reuters reported that Trump’s transition team was compiling a list of military officers linked to Milley for potential dismissal.
