Joe Biden protects potential Trump targets by issuing preemptive pardons ahead of inauguration

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Ex-Rep. Liz Cheney campaigns with Rep. Elissa Slotkin at an Evening for Patriotism and Bipartisanship event on November 1, 2022 in East Lansing, Michigan; Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, testifies during a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing on the federal coronavirus response on Capitol Hill on March 18, 2021 in Washington, D.C.

They included Dr. Anthony Fauci, Liz Cheney, and Gen. Mark Milley.

Christopher Wiggins

Christopher Wiggins is The Advocate’s senior national reporter in Washington, D.C., covering the intersection of public policy and politics with LGBTQ+ lives, including The White House, U.S. Congress, Supreme Court, and federal agencies. He has written multiple cover story profiles for The Advocate’s print magazine, profiling figures like Delaware Congresswoman Sarah McBride, longtime LGBTQ+ ally Vice President Kamala Harris, and ABC Good Morning America Weekend anchor Gio Benitez. Wiggins is committed to amplifying untold stories, especially as the second Trump administration’s policies impact LGBTQ+ (and particularly transgender) rights, and can be reached at christopher.wiggins@equalpride.com or on BlueSky at cwnewser.bsky.social; whistleblowers can securely contact him on Signal at cwdc.98.

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Christopher Wiggins

January 20 2025 10:32 AM EST

January 21 2025 2:44 AM EST

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President Joe Biden issued preemptive pardons Monday morning to several prominent people potentially targeted by President-elect Donald Trump, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, Gen. Mark Milley, and members of the January 6 committee. The legally binding pardons, announced just hours before Trump’s inauguration, shield them from potential criminal prosecution.

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The U.S. Constitution grants presidents absolute pardon power, which Biden utilized in an unprecedented manner. Historically, pardons have been issued to individuals already convicted of crimes. However, The Associated Press reports that Biden’s issuance of preemptive pardons is designed to protect public servants who Trump and his supporters have targeted for political retaliation.

“These are exceptional circumstances, and I cannot in good conscience do nothing,” Biden said in a statement. “The issuance of these pardons should not be mistaken as an acknowledgment of wrongdoing.”

Fauci, who led the nation’s COVID-19 response and is an expert on HIV and AIDS, has faced relentless criticism from Trump allies. Milley, the retired chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has publicly denounced Trump’s behavior, calling him a “fascist.” Both expressed gratitude for Biden’s actions. Milley said he hoped to avoid putting his family through “distraction, expense, and anxiety.”

Biden also extended clemency to members of the January 6 committee, including former Republican Reps. Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, who helped investigate Trump’s role in the Capitol attack.