In his final hours as president, Joe Biden issued preemptive pardons for several individuals, including family members and high-profile figures like Liz Cheney and Mark Milley. The pardons extend to members of the Jan. 6 congressional committee and Capitol police officers who testified during investigations. Anthony Fauci, former White House medical advisor, also received a pardon amid ongoing partisan scrutiny.
Biden's pardons, seen as a protective measure, included his siblings and their spouses, citing relentless politically motivated attacks against them. Hunter Biden, the president's son, was also pardoned after facing tax and firearm-related charges. Biden defended his actions, emphasizing the unjust targeting of public servants and his family, which he described as the worst form of partisan politics.
Among the most notable was the commutation of Native American activist Leonard Peltier’s life sentence, despite strong opposition from the FBI. Peltier will now serve the remainder of his sentence under home confinement. Biden justified his decision, citing exceptional circumstances and the need to safeguard individuals from politically motivated actions.
Incoming President Donald Trump criticized the pardons, particularly those for Cheney and Milley, questioning their necessity and suggesting they signaled guilt. Milley, previously accused of disloyalty by Trump, expressed gratitude for the pardon. Fauci, who clashed with Trump during the COVID-19 pandemic, called Biden’s gesture a recognition of his integrity.
Biden maintained the pardons were a defense of democracy and the rule of law. Stressing his belief in legal institutions, he condemned the intimidation and threats faced by public servants. While controversial, the pardons underscore Biden’s parting message to protect those he believed were unfairly targeted.