US President Joe Biden has granted pardons to Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired Gen. Mark Milley, and members of the House January 6 committee in a move aimed at protecting them from potential revenge by former President Donald Trump.
Fauci, a key figure in the COVID-19 response, called the pardon “extraordinary” and said he had committed no crime. He will not face prosecution over his role in advising Trump on the pandemic.
Milley, a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has been critical of Trump’s conduct surrounding the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol. He said he was grateful for the pardon to prevent him and his family from facing retribution.
The pardons also cover members and staff of the House January 6 committee, who investigated Trump’s involvement in the riot. The committee’s final report found that Trump had engaged in a “multi-part conspiracy” to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
Biden’s move is seen as an attempt to break with political norms and protect public servants from potential harassment by a president determined to exact revenge. It is also a departure from Trump’s own use of pardons before his inauguration, which never materialized due to time constraints.
The extent of the legal protection offered by the pardons may not fully shield the lawmakers or their staff from other types of inquiries, particularly from Congress. However, the move has been welcomed by many as an effort to safeguard democracy and prevent further polarization.
Source: https://www.mississippifreepress.org/biden-pardoned-thompson-fauci-milley-and-others-to-guard-against-revenge-prosecutions-under-trump