You knew it was coming…
Outgoing President Joe Biden used his final hours in office on Monday to pardon COVID criminal Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired General Mark Milley, and members of the January 6 Committee.
“I believe in the rule of law, and I am optimistic that the strength of our legal institutions will ultimately prevail over politics,” Biden said in a statement. “But these are exceptional circumstances, and I cannot in good conscience do nothing.”
“In certain cases, some have even been threatened with criminal prosecutions, including General Mark A. Milley, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, and the members and staff of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol,” the outgoing POTUS added.
Biden's full statement on the preemptive pardons. Unclear if any/all of them will be accepted. No list of names or specifics appended. Also, this would remove 5th Amendment immunity if Congress subpoenas them. pic.twitter.com/G9RvZmu0Eu
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) January 20, 2025
“These public servants have served our nation with honor and distinction and do not deserve to be the targets of unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions,” he added.
From The New York Post:
All those listed in Biden’s pardons have either crossed the incoming president politically or tried to hold him accountable for his attempt to overturn the 2020 election loss.
Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, called Trump a “wannabe dictator” and detailed his conduct around the deadly Jan. 6 attacks during the House investigation.
Meanwhile, Fauci, who served as Biden’s chief medical advisor until his retirement in 2022, drew ire when he repeatedly dismissed the theory that COVID-19 virus most likely leaked from a Chinese lab.
Biden also extended pardons to members of the Jan. 6 committee, which includes former Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, both Republicans, as well as the US Capitol and DC Metropolitan police officers who testified before the committee.
Conservative lawmakers and commentators on X unloaded on Biden for the pardons — especially for letting Fauci off the hook, who buried COVID-19’s origins and obstructed the investigation.
“The guy who claimed he would ‘protect norms’ continues to bulldoze them and the Constitution until the bitter end. Biden truly is one of the worst Presidents in American history and will only be remembered as the guy between Trump’s two terms,” Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) wrote on X.
“Biden pardoned Fauci. He says it’s not an admission of guilt. But if Fauci were innocent, no pardon would be needed. The evidence suggests Fauci helped create the Covid pandemic, and then covered it up. The investigation must go forward. All Covid & Fauci Files must be released,” said investigative journalist Michael Shellenberger.
Biden pardoned Fauci. He says it’s not an admission of guilt. But if Fauci were innocent, no pardon would be needed. The evidence suggests Fauci helped create the Covid pandemic, and then covered it up. The investigation must go forward. All Covid & Fauci Files must be released. https://t.co/FkCp0jjMHt
— Michael Shellenberger (@shellenberger) January 20, 2025
“WHAT A DISGRACE,” said Nick Sortor.
🚨 #BREAKING: Joe Biden has just pardoned Anthony Fauci, Gen. Mark Milley, and J6 committee members, including Liz Cheney
WHAT A DISGRACE. pic.twitter.com/vLzU1a5fzF
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) January 20, 2025
Former Press Secretary and Fox host Kayleigh McEnany said, “This might be the ultimate news dump… done hours before the swearing-in with the assurance that this news will be overshadowed.”
🚨 Biden issues pre-emptive pardons for General Mark Milley, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and members of the January 6th Committee among others.
This might be the ultimate news dump…
done hours before the swearing in with the assurance that this news will be overshadowed.
— Kayleigh McEnany (@kayleighmcenany) January 20, 2025
Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, who has been investigating Fauci for years, said, “If there was ever any doubt as to who bears responsibility for the COVID pandemic, Biden’s pardon of Fauci forever seals the deal. As Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, I will not rest until the entire truth of the coverup is exposed. Fauci’s pardon will only serve as an accelerant to pierce the veil of deception. Ignominious! Anthony Fauci will go down in history as the first government scientist to be preemptively pardoned for a crime.”
If there was ever any doubt as to who bears responsibility for the COVID pandemic, Biden’s pardon of Fauci forever seals the deal.
As Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee I will not rest until the entire truth of the coverup is exposed.…
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) January 20, 2025
Conservative podcaster Tim Pool called the pardon “Absolutely insane and absolutely predictable.”
Biden pardons Milley, Fauci, and J6 Committee
Absolutely Insane and Absolutely Predictable pic.twitter.com/VgPld782r5
— Tim Pool (@Timcast) January 20, 2025
This story is developing…
Biden pardons Fauci, Milley and Jan. 6 committee staffers in final hours of presidency https://t.co/A0ntb8cd30 pic.twitter.com/YfDZBcHyhT
— New York Post (@nypost) January 20, 2025