Biden administration weighing preemptive pardons for those on Trump’s political radar: Report

Senior aides to President Joe Biden are engaged in an intense internal debate over whether to issue preemptive pardons to a group of current and former public officials who could be targeted if President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House.

According to a Politico report, citing senior Democrats familiar with the discussions, Biden’s aides are increasingly concerned about the possibility that various officials — both current and former— could face investigations or even indictments.

This sense of urgency has intensified since Trump’s announcement last weekend that he had appointed Kash Patel to lead the FBI. Patel has openly pledged to target Trump’s critics, added the report.

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However, White House officials are proceeding with caution as they consider the extraordinary measure of granting blanket pardons to individuals who have not committed crimes.

They are wary that such actions could appear improper, potentially playing into Trump’s criticisms, and that those offered pardons may choose to decline them, reported Politico.

The discussions include the potential pardoning of both sitting officials, whether elected or appointed, and former officials who have incurred the wrath of Trump and his supporters.

Potential targets for pardons include members of the January 6 Committee, such as Sen.-elect Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and former GOP Rep. Liz Cheney, whom Trump has previously suggested should be jailed. Also mentioned is Anthony Fauci, the former head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who became a target of right-wing criticism during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The deliberations are led by White House counsel Ed Siskel, with input from chief of staff Jeff Zients and others. President Biden, focused on his son’s pardon, has not yet been involved in the broader discussions.

These talks were prompted by Trump’s ongoing threats and discreet lobbying from congressional Democrats, though not by those seeking pardons. “The beneficiaries know nothing,” Politico quoted one well-connected Democrat as saying about those who could receive pardons.

Biden’s ultimate decision could have major consequences for some of the country’s most prominent figures, similar to his choice to pardon his son.

Biden’s decision could be as consequential for high-profile public officials as his pardon of his son.

According to the report, a White House spokesperson declined to comment on the discussions but did not deny their existence.

These talks reflect growing anxiety among Democrats about Trump’s potential reprisals if he returns to power. The breadth of Biden’s pardon for his son Hunter underscores the White House’s concerns over Trump officials seeking openings for prosecution.

The key question is whether to take Trump’s threats of revenge seriously, particularly against Democrats and the so-called Deep State.

End-of-term pardons are always politically charged, but Biden’s situation is unprecedented. Unlike past pardons, such as George HW Bush’s of Caspar Weinberger or Bill Clinton’s of Marc Rich, Biden faces a return of a vengeful Trump with loyalists plotting retaliation, reported Politico.

The political pressure is compounded by Biden’s decision to pardon his son, angering some Democrats already upset by his decision to seek re-election at 82. Now, Biden’s aides must weigh whether to extend similar pardons to public officials targeted by Trump.

Capitol Hill presents conflicting views. Some Democrats, like Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), have praised Gerald Ford’s preemptive pardon of Richard Nixon as a potential model.

Some longtime Democratic lawmakers, like Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), have talked favorably about the precedent of former President Gerald Ford’s preemptive pardon of Richard Nixon, issued before any charges were filed against the disgraced former president.

“If it’s clear by January 19 that [revenge] is his intention, then I would recommend to President Biden that he provide those preemptive pardons to people, because that’s really what our country is going to need next year,” Politico quoted Markey as saying on WGBH last week.

Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Penn.), a close Biden ally who hosted the president in his district shortly before the election, issued a plea Wednesday for Biden to offer blanket pardons.

“This is no hypothetical threat,” Politico quoted Boyle as saying in a statement, adding, “The time for cautious restraint is over. We must act with urgency to push back against these threats and prevent Trump from abusing his power.”

With inputs from agencies