‘He didn’t give himself one’: Trump slams Biden over pardons
Washington: Donald Trump criticized Joe Biden’s pre-emptive pardons for family and allies, questioning why Biden didn’t pardon himself. Biden defended the pardons as a safeguard against partisan attacks, while Trump hinted at using similar measures if reelected, sparking debates about the precedent set for future administrations.
Washington: Former US President Donald Trump recently warned his successor, Joe Biden, through a pointed remark during an interview with Fox News, questioning why he did not issue himself a pre-emptive pardon during his presidency. Trump criticized Biden's decision, saying, "This guy went around giving everybody pardons, and the funny thing, maybe the sad thing, is he didn't give himself a pardon. If you look at it, it all had to do with him."
Biden's use of pre-emptive pardons
In his last days in office, Biden issued pre-emptive pardons to close family members, including his siblings and their spouses, citing "unrelenting attacks and threats" fueled by partisan politics. He explained that the pardons were to shield his allies from politically motivated retribution. Among those pardoned were Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired General Mark Milley, members of the January 6 House committee, and other associates who might face retaliatory actions under a Republican-led administration.
Biden explained that these pardons were not confessions of guilt, and he said, "The issuance of these pardons should not be mistaken as an acknowledgment that they engaged in any wrongdoing, nor should acceptance be misconstrued as an admission of guilt for any offense." In a surprising move, Biden also pardoned his son Hunter Biden on charges related to a federal case that involved tax and gun-related charges.
Trump's response to Biden's precedent
Trump had previously criticized Biden's moves as an "unbelievable precedent." He suggested that he would do the same if needed. During his presidential campaign, Trump repeatedly threatened to activate the US Justice Department to probe his political opponents.
Future consequences
One of the likely attorney general choices by Trump, Pam Bondi, said the administration would not engage in political prosecutions, but she didn't rule out the possibility of probing the critics of the former president, including the special counsel who filed federal criminal cases against him.
