Outgoing US President Joe Biden is considering preemptive pardons for prominent critics of his successor Donald Trump, multiple sources familiar with the discussions told the BBC’s US partner CBS.
This is intended to protect them from potential retaliation after President Trump takes office, vowing revenge on those who oppose him.
CBS reported that Biden has reportedly discussed the possibility of a pardon with senior White House aides, but no specific names have been officially recommended to him.
Sources told AFP that officials were also considering the message to send to pardon those who did not commit crimes.
This is due to the surrounding controversy. Biden unconditionally pardons son HunterHe was scheduled to be sentenced this month on federal felony and tax convictions.
Republicans and some Democrats criticized the move, which comes after the president previously said he would not take such action.
U.S. media reported that people likely to receive a preemptive pardon from Biden include Dr. Anthony Fauci, who has criticized Trump’s response to COVID-19, and California senator-elect Adam Schiff, who led the first impeachment effort against Trump.
Other Democrats who, like Schiff, participated in or investigated the Trump impeachment case 2021 US Capitol Riotmay also be granted.
In an interview with NPR last month, Schiff said he doesn’t think preemptive pardons are a good idea because he believes the courts can withstand threats from Donald Trump.
“Frankly, I don’t think it’s worth considering, because it’s so implausible,” he said of reports that such a pardon was being considered.
“I would urge the president not to do that. I think it would look defensive and unnecessary.”
White House press secretary Carine Jean-Pierre said earlier this week that President Biden could receive more pardons before his term ends in January, but did not provide details.
“He thinks the process through very thoroughly.”
Among those eligible for a more traditional presidential pardon for a crime are non-violent drug offenders or those who have served time for various offenses, CBS reported.
Donald Trump is not the only person to threaten retaliation against those perceived to have opposed him in the past. FBI Director-nominated Kash Patel said he would pursue politicians and journalists who he claims, without evidence, helped overturn the results of the 2020 US presidential election.
“Whether it’s criminal or civil, we’re going to come after you,” Patel said.
“We’ll figure it out. But yes, we’re going to notify you all… We’re actually going to use the Constitution to prosecute them for crimes that we’ve always said they were guilty of but were never guilty of.”
Democratic Rep. Brendan Boyle responded that he believes Biden should grant blanket pardons to people targeted on Donald Trump’s “enemies list.”
“By appointing Kash Patel as FBI Director, President Trump has made it clear that he is more focused on addressing personal harm than protecting the American people or upholding the rule of law,” Boyle said.
