President Biden’s top aides are reportedly weighing the idea of issuing pre-emptive pardons to current and former government officials ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration next month.
Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), Sen.-elect Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Dr. Anthony Fauci are among those being discussed as potentially needing a pardon before Trump takes office, according to Politico.
🔹Fauci has been accused by Republicans and watchdog groups of lying to Congress about the origins of COVID-19 and his use of a private email account to conduct government business.
🔹Cheney, an outspoken critic of the president-elect, was a leading figure in the House of Representatives’ investigation into Trump’s role in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol Building 🔹
Schiff, a congressman elected to the Senate last month, has long peddled accusations about the Trump campaign’s alleged collusion with Russia during the 2016 election cycle
The pardon discussions have been spearheaded by White House counsel Ed Siskel and have involved other top West Wing officials, including chief of staff Jeff Zients, but Biden, 82, has not yet been involved in the deliberations, the outlet reported on Wednesday.
One of the concerns being weighed is whether doling out blanket pardons to people who haven’t been charged with a crime would suggest impropriety.
White House officials are also aware....
that those being offered pre-emptive pardons may reject them.
( who would EVER reject a Presidential Pardon ??!!?!? )
The discussions were sparked after the White House was lobbied by congressional Democrats, according to Politico, and stem from fears that Trump, 78, will launch criminal investigations into his political enemies that could result in indictments when he assumes office.
Remaining story can be sourced below via the link:
Yes, a duly elected president can.
I stand corrected. Thank you. Its dogshit though.
"Legal Perspective: The Supreme Court has affirmed that the President can pardon someone before any formal legal process. This suggests that the pardon could apply to potential crimes not yet formally charged or even known to the public or legal authorities at the time of the pardon."
"Ethical and Political Considerations: While legally permissible, issuing pardons for crimes never formally alleged or charged could be seen as an abuse of power or an interference with justice by some observers. Critics might argue that it undermines the legal system's integrity by preemptively nullifying accountability for possible future revelations of wrongdoing."
"Practical Application: Presidents have used this power in various ways. For instance, President Gerald Ford's pardon of Richard Nixon for any offenses he might have committed during his presidency is a notable example of a preemptive pardon. This action was controversial but demonstrated the broad interpretation of presidential pardon power."