In one of his final actions as president, Joe Biden has issued pre-emptive pardons to Dr. Anthony Fauci, General Mark Milley, and the members of the House committee that investigated the January 6th Capitol attack. These moves are aimed at protecting them from potential legal trouble under the incoming president, Donald Trump.
In a statement, Biden praised the individuals he pardoned, calling them “dedicated, selfless public servants” who play crucial roles in American democracy. He specifically highlighted Milley, who served in the military for over 40 years, and Fauci, who spent decades leading the U.S. government’s response to health crises like HIV/AIDS, Ebola, and Zika.
Biden also commended the January 6th committee for its work, saying it fulfilled its mission to investigate the causes and circumstances of the Capitol riot with “integrity” and a commitment to truth. However, he noted that these individuals have faced “ongoing threats and intimidation” because of their roles, especially from Trump and his allies, who have suggested prosecuting them.
“These public servants have served our nation with honor and distinction,” Biden said. “They do not deserve to be the targets of unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions.”
The president also mentioned how political investigations can ruin reputations and disrupt people’s lives, even when they’ve done nothing wrong. He made it clear that the pardons were meant to protect these individuals from what he called “baseless and politically motivated investigations” that could harm them and their families.
Biden’s pardon included not just Fauci, Milley, and the House committee members, but also police officers who gave testimony to the committee, like Harry Dunn and Aquilino Gonell from the Capitol Police, and Daniel Hodges and Michael Fanone from the D.C. Metro Police. The president emphasized that the pardons should not be seen as an admission of guilt.
“Even when individuals have done nothing wrong… the mere fact of being investigated or prosecuted can irreparably damage reputations and finances,” Biden said.
Dunn, who left the Capitol Police to run for a House seat in Maryland, expressed his gratitude to Biden for both the pardon and his leadership. He told CBS News, “I wish this pardon weren’t necessary, but unfortunately, the political climate we are in now has made the need for one somewhat of a reality.”
Hodges, who is still with the D.C. police, couldn’t comment as he was on duty for the inauguration but thanked Biden in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
This round of pardons is a significant use of presidential power and prevents Trump from being able to pursue legal action against these individuals if he wins a second term. However, it’s not clear if all recipients will accept the pardons. Under U.S. law, a pardon must be accepted to be valid, and some of the former committee members, like Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, have said they won’t accept one. Kinzinger even stated, “I didn’t do anything wrong” and doesn’t feel the need for a pardon.
The pardons come just days before Biden leaves office, making them one of his final acts as president. They follow another controversial pardon earlier this month for his son, Hunter Biden, who was cleared of numerous charges. As Biden exits, Trump prepares to take office again, with hints of revenge against political opponents.
