President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House has sparked intense debate within the Biden administration over issuing preemptive pardons to current and former officials who could be “targeted” by Trump’s incoming administration, according to senior Democratic sources.
The discussions reportedly include potential pardons for figures such as Sen.-elect Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), former Rep. Liz Cheney, and Dr. Anthony Fauci, all of whom have faced intense criticism from Trump and his supporters. Trump previously stated that Cheney should go to jail for her role on the Jan. 6 Committee. Fauci rightly became a frequent target during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Biden’s aides are deeply concerned that Trump’s recent nomination of Kash Patel to head the FBI, who has vowed to pursue Trump’s critics, signals an aggressive stance toward political adversaries. However, the White House is wary of issuing blanket pardons for individuals who have “committed no crimes,” fearing it might imply wrongdoing and fuel Trump’s accusations of impropriety. Some recipients may even reject such pardons on principle.
The deliberations, led by White House Counsel Ed Siskel and Chief of Staff Jeff Zients, have supposedly not yet involved Biden, who recently focused on pardoning his son Hunter. Pressure for preemptive pardons has grown following quiet lobbying by congressional Democrats, although none of the potential beneficiaries have actively sought them.
Some aides fear the mere threat of investigations could financially strain officials forced to hire expensive legal counsel. This concern is driving some Biden appointees to consider lucrative private-sector jobs to prepare for potential legal battles.
