President Joe Biden issued preemptive pardons to Dr. Anthony Fauci and nine members of the January 6 commission in his final days in office, drawing backlash from Republicans. Fauci, implicated in pandemic-related restrictions and accused of lying to Congress about funding a Wuhan lab, expressed gratitude for the pardon. Critics, including Senator Rand Paul, labeled Biden’s action a defense of Fauci’s controversial pandemic measures, some alleging it signals criminality. Additionally, Biden pardoned former Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley and stated these pardons protect public servants from politically motivated prosecution, insisting they warrant gratitude, not shame.
President Joe Biden granted preemptive pardons to Dr. Anthony Fauci and all nine members of the commission on January 6, sparking outrage on the way out the door.
The 82-year-old also used his final moments in the Oval Office to give full protection to former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley, who Trump claimed deserved execution.
The Trump campaign has accused Fauci of strict coronavirus restrictions, including social distancing, mask-wearing and strict vaccination requirements, that have caused many Americans to lose their jobs under Biden’s leadership. is blaming.
Fauci is also accused of lying to Congress about the U.S. sending money to fund acquisition research at a lab in Wuhan, China, where the virus is believed to have originated and leaked. It is held.
Fauci told CNN’s Dana Bash that he was “very grateful” for Biden’s pardon, and continues to insist that Biden “did nothing wrong.”
Rep. Bennie Thompson, chairman of the Jan. 6 committee, and former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney were also among those eligible for the pardon, which provides immunity from future actions by the Trump Justice Department.
There was an immediate backlash from Republican lawmakers, who have vowed to bring Mr. Fauci to Congress to answer to the American people over his actions on the pandemic.
“If there was ever any doubt as to who is responsible for the coronavirus pandemic, Biden’s pardon of Fauci seals the deal forever,” said Rand Paul, who previously referred the doctor to the Justice Department for prosecution. The senator wrote to X.
As he leaves office, President Joe Biden will issue pre-emptive pardons to several people believed to be targeted by President Donald Trump in his second term.
Most controversially, Anthony Fauci served as leader of the White House Coronavirus Task Force and was responsible for recommending some of the most restrictive policies during the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s a doctor’s pardon.
Melania Trump watches her husband, President-elect Donald Trump, speak at a candlelight dinner on Sunday night.
First lady Melania Trump was stunned Sunday, hours before her husband was to take the oath of office early Monday afternoon.
“As Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, I will not rest until the full truth of the cover-up is exposed,” the Kentucky Republican continued. “Mr. Fauci’s pardon will only serve as a catalyst to pierce the veil of deception.”
“Disgrace! Anthony Fauci will go down in history as the first government scientist to be preemptively pardoned for a crime.”
Trump is scheduled to take the oath of office early Monday afternoon.
He plans to sign at least 200 executive orders and actions on his first day back at the Resolve Desk, including pardons for those involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
The most controversial of Biden’s pardons so far is protecting Fauci from federal prosecution. He also received significant backlash for pardoning his son Hunter for federal crimes.
biden Last week, he spent his final days in office on a series of clemency measures designed to commute about 2,500 sentences and vacate sentences he deemed too harsh.
The ruling was announced after he granted 39 pardons and commuted another 1,500 sentences in December.
Republican Texas Rep. Chip Roy argued that Biden’s actions on Monday “suggest” that all of the preemptively protected people have committed crimes and are in need of clemency.
“So let’s call them all to Congress and demand the truth,” Roy suggested to X. “If they refuse or lie, let’s test the ‘range’ of constitutional pardons on their future actions.”
MAGA ally Marjorie Taylor Greene claimed that Biden’s actions show they are “committing a crime.”
“Biden will pardon Mark Milley, Anthony Fauci, members of the January 6th committee, and the police officers who testified before the committee, saying they are criminals.”
“Never forget what the Democrats did: Masks are completely off,” she continued.
Ivanka Trump takes an Instagram photo of her husband Jared Kushner and their children Arabella, Joseph, and Theodore as they arrive for preparations for father Donald Trump’s second inauguration on January 19, 2025. post
Many X users also strongly objected to the pardon, accusing Fauci of murder.
“Anthony Fauci was pardoned by Joe Biden for murder,” anti-transgender advocate Riley Gaines posted. ‘that’s it. That’s the tweet.
In another tweet she said: “Ask yourself: Why would Joe Biden pardon Mr. Fauci if he was not a criminal who should be in prison for lies, negligence, and greed that killed innocent Americans? ?” Biden was already out in shame and disgrace, but this is a new low. ”
“Congress should thoroughly investigate Anthony Fauci,” one conservative X account wrote, and suggested that “states should then criminally prosecute Anthony Fauci for murder.”
Another pro-MAGA account with 3.4 million followers wrote, “Biden’s pardon for Fauci is the worst yet.” He deserves a life sentence. ”
Conservatives and opponents of coronavirus restrictions have accused Fauci of widespread social distancing, mask-wearing, school closures and vaccination mandates.
Fauci is accused of lying under oath to Congress about directing U.S. funding for gain-of-function research at China’s Wuhan laboratory, where the coronavirus is believed to have been developed and leaked.
It is believed, especially among conservatives, that the new coronavirus was developed at the Wuhan Institute of Virology and intentionally leaked. Photo: Chinese virologist Shi Shengli at the P4 laboratory in Wuhan, Hubei province, China.
“Fauci is the most prolific American serial killer of the 21st century,” podcaster Eric Matheny wrote in X. “He is neither a hero nor a respected scientist.” He funded the creation of the coronavirus, knew its origins in a lab, and lied to the American public. ”
“Of course Biden will forgive him,” he concluded.
Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.) condemned Biden’s final pardon in its entirety, writing in a post to We just granted a pre-emptive pardon to the staff of the fake J6 committee.”
“In its final hours, the most corrupt administration in American history is covering up the tracks of Democratic Party criminal activity,” he continued. “But we will never forget what they did to our country.”
“Our nation depends on dedicated and selfless public servants every day,” Biden said in a statement about the pardons Monday morning. They are the lifeblood of our democracy. Alarmingly, however, public servants continue to face threats and intimidation for faithfully discharging their duties. ”
“That is why I am exercising my constitutional authority to pardon General Mark A. Milley, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, members of Congress and staff on special committees, and members of the U.S. Capitol and the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department. “I testified before the special committee,” the president announced.
“The issuance of these pardons should not be misconstrued as an admission that an individual has engaged in any wrongdoing, nor should acceptance of a pardon be misconstrued as an admission of guilt for any crime,” he said. continued. “Our nation owes these public servants a debt of gratitude for their tireless service to our country.”
Mr. Biden and First Lady Jill Biden are in the midst of vacating the White House on Monday morning ahead of inauguration activities.
At noon, Trump will be sworn in as president and return to the White House for a second four-year term.
Fauci, who was brought in by President Trump as part of the White House coronavirus task force in the early days of the pandemic, has now become one of the MAGA world’s biggest enemies.
Former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney was among those Biden granted pre-emptive pardons on Monday, including eight of her colleagues who served on the House Select Committee on the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. everyone was included
The pardon, Biden’s first since losing the 2024 presidential election to Trump, was for his son, who was convicted of felony tax and federal crimes in 2018 for lying about drug use on paperwork to purchase a firearm. It was against Hunter Biden, 54.
This infuriated Democrats who felt it gave President Trump permission to grant sweeping pardons without fear of accusations of hypocrisy.
And on the same day that Biden pardoned his son, Trump announced he would pardon defendants charged in connection with the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.
Biden said in Monday’s pardon announcement that the action was justified because they are public servants “under threat of criminal prosecution.”
“These public servants serve our country with honor and honor and do not deserve to be subject to unwarranted and politically motivated prosecutions,” he said.