Biden shields individuals on Trumps politically motivated persecution list; pardons Fauci, Milley, Jan 6 riot committee members

Outgoing US President Joe Biden has in his final hours in the White House wielded the extraordinary powers of his office to preemptively pardon former top US infectious disease expert during Covid Anthony Fauci Anthony Fauci, retired General Mark Milley and members of the House committee that investigated the January 6 attack on the US Capitol.

Trump has regularly clashed with Dr Fauci during the pandemic and has suggested he would take action against those who tried to hold him accountable for the 6 January Capitol riot.

Others pardoned is the retired general Mark Milley, who has described Trump as “fascist to the core” and “dangerous”.

General Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the journalist Bob Woodward last year that he feared being re-called to uniform and court-martialed for “disloyalty” by Trump. According to Woodward, he warned colleagues that Trump was a “walking, talking advertisement of what he’s trying to do”. He noted that Steve Bannon, a key Trump ally, has vowed to “hold him accountable”.

In what he described as “unjustified… politically motivated prosecutions”, the outgoing US president said in a statement: “These are exceptional circumstances, and I cannot in good conscience do nothing.”

Biden said: “Our nation owes these public servants a debt of gratitude for their tireless commitment.”

“These public servants have served our nation with honour and distinction and do not deserve to be the targets of unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions,” Biden said in his statement.

He added that the pardons should “not be mistaken as an acknowledgment” that any of those covered “engaged in any wrongdoing”.

“Baseless and politically motivated investigations wreak havoc on the lives, safety, and financial security of targeted individuals and their families,” he stressed.

On the campaign trail, Trump sometimes railed against “enemies from within”, and has endorsed several figures who have vowed retribution against his foes to join his cabinet.

The move comes after Trump warned of an enemies list filled with those who have crossed him politically or sought to hold him accountable for his attempt to overturn his 2020 election loss and his role in the storming of the US Capitol four years ago.

Trump is set to pardon some of those convicted of crimes related to the riot.

“You’re going to see something tomorrow,” Trump said on Sunday, in reference to the 6 January rioters. “I think you’ll be very, very happy.”