President Biden is reportedly considering pardons in response to former President Trump’s threats to investigate individuals involved in investigating him or impeding his agenda during his first term. Trump, who faced federal indictments that were later dropped after winning the election, has made public statements hinting at incarcerating high-ranking officials such as Attorney General Merrick Garland, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, and special counsel Jack Smith. Although Trump lacked the authority to detain his targets, his appointees leading the Justice Department and FBI have discussed probing his political adversaries, raising the specter of potential charges and trials. Trump’s nominee for U.S. attorney general, former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, ominously warned of Department of Justice prosecutors facing prosecution, while his pick to head the FBI, former intelligence official Kash Patel, threatened to uncover so-called conspirators both within the government and the media.
In a statement to NBC News, Trump advocated for the imprisonment of all individuals who participated in the House committee’s investigation of the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack, including notable figures like Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Sen. Adam Schiff of California. Trump particularly singled out Schiff, a leading figure in both Trump’s first impeachment proceedings and the aforementioned committee, as “the enemy within.” Dr. Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, faced consistent criticism from Republican lawmakers regarding the U.S. response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with Trump claiming to have overruled Fauci during his presidency. Cheney publicly condemned Trump’s apparent exposure to potential federal scrutiny, labeling the allegations against him as “a malicious and cowardly assault on the truth.” She dismissed the credibility of these claims, asserting that no respectable legal professional, legislator, or judge would entertain such accusations. Schiff echoed Cheney’s sentiments, cautioning against the establishment of a dangerous precedent through blanket pardons for unspecified offenses.
In a notable gesture, President Biden honored Cheney and Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, the leaders of the House committee investigating the events of January 6, with the Presidential Citizens Medal, the country’s second-highest civilian accolade. During an interview with USA TODAY, Biden hinted at the possibility of issuing pardons before his term concludes on January 20, contingent upon the signals emanating from Trump’s camp. Biden underscored that his decisions regarding pardons would hinge on the individuals selected by Trump for key governmental positions.
