Femi Ashekun/
In a historic and extraordinary use of presidential power, President Joe Biden has issued preemptive pardons to Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired Gen. Mark Milley, and members of the House committee that investigated the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack.
The move, announced in the final hours of Biden’s presidency, is aimed at shielding them from potential retaliation by the incoming Trump administration.
The beneficiaries of the pardons, however, have all publicly opposed the decision, arguing that they have done nothing wrong and that accepting a pardon could imply guilt.
“I served my country with integrity and will not allow anyone to paint me as a criminal,” said Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Fauci echoed this sentiment, stating, “I stand by my actions and decisions as a public health official during the pandemic. A pardon should not even be necessary.”
The decision follows warnings from Donald Trump, who has openly pledged to target political adversaries. Trump’s rhetoric includes promises to punish those who investigated his conduct surrounding the Capitol insurrection and efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
His incoming administration features nominees who back his claims of election fraud and have vowed to hold these individuals accountable.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, who served as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for nearly four decades and as Biden’s chief medical advisor, became a lightning rod during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fauci’s refusal to support Trump’s unproven claims about the virus and his advocacy for mask mandates made him a target of right-wing vitriol. Despite his exoneration, Fauci insists he needs no pardon for “simply doing my job.”
Gen. Mark Milley, who has been critical of Trump, describing him as a “fascist” and detailing troubling behaviour in the lead-up to the January 6 insurrection, also rejected the notion of needing a pardon. “I acted in accordance with my oath to the Constitution,” Milley said.
Members of the bipartisan House select committee that investigated the Capitol attack have similarly denounced the pardons, emphasising that their actions were lawful and necessary to uphold democracy.
Biden’s decision has sparked mixed reactions. Supporters argue the pardons are a necessary safeguard to protect public servants from potential political retribution, while critics contend that the move could set a troubling precedent.
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