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CV NEWS FEED // The White House is reportedly debating whether to offer preemptive pardons to several public officials who might be prosecuted once Trump takes office, according to Politico.
“Biden’s aides are deeply concerned about a range of current and former officials who could find themselves facing inquiries and even indictments, a sense of alarm which has only accelerated since Trump last weekend announced the appointment of Kash Patel to lead the FBI,” Politico reported.
Current and former public officials who could face prosecution reportedly include Democrat Sen.-elect Adam Schiff and former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney. Both served on Congress’ committee to investigate the Jan. 6, 2021, riots at the U.S. Capitol. Politico reported that Anthony Fauci, the former long-time director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases who came under fire during the COVID-19 pandemic, is on the list for a potential pardon as well.
However, the news outlet added, the White House is hesitant to hand out the pardons, as they could be rejected by the public officials or suggest that there is something to cover up.
“That the conversations are taking place at all reflects the growing anxieties among high-level Democrats about just how far Trump’s reprisals could go once he reclaims power,” Politico reported, adding that President Joe Biden’s pardon of his son, Hunter Biden, shows the White House’s level of concern.
Some in the Democratic Party are in favor of issuing the pardons. Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) said, “That’s really what our country is going to need next year.”
Rep. Brendan Doyle (D-Penn.) favored the pardons as well, stating, “This is no hypothetical threat.”
“The time for cautious restraint is over,” Doyle said in a statement, according to Politico. “We must act with urgency to push back against these threats and prevent Trump from abusing his power.”
However, Schiff, one of the potential candidates for a pardon, said that he doesn’t think issuing them is a good idea.
According to Politico, he said, “I think it would seem defensive and unnecessary.”
