Biden Issues Last-Minute Pardons Covering Cheney And Fauci

Just hours before President-elect Trump’s return to the White House, President Joe Biden granted broad amnesty on Monday to members of the House Jan. 6 committee, former NIAID Director Anthony Fauci, and others, issuing a historic set of preemptive pardons.
Biden’s announcement of these sweeping pardons at the U.S. Capitol on Monday, just before Trump's inauguration, caught many by surprise.
"Our nation relies on dedicated, selfless public servants every day. They are the lifeblood of our democracy. Yet alarmingly, public servants have been subjected to ongoing threats and intimidation for faithfully discharging their duties," Biden stated.
"In certain cases, some have even been threatened with criminal prosecutions, including General Mark A. Milley, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, and the members and staff of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol. These public servants have served our nation with honor and distinction and do not deserve to be the targets of unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions," he elaborated.
Biden highlighted General Milley’s career, stating, "General Milley served our nation for more than 40 years, holding various command and leadership positions while deploying to some of the most dangerous regions in the world to protect and defend democracy. As Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he navigated our Armed Forces through complex global security challenges and reinforced our alliances while establishing new partnerships."
Regarding Fauci’s contributions, Biden said, "For more than half a century, Dr. Fauci served our country. He saved countless lives by managing the government’s response to pressing health crises, including HIV/AIDS, as well as the Ebola and Zika viruses. During his tenure as my Chief Medical Advisor, he helped the country tackle a once-in-a-century pandemic. The United States is safer and healthier because of him."
Reflecting on the events of January 6, Biden remarked, "On January 6, 2021, American democracy was tested when a mob of insurrectionists attacked the Capitol in an attempt to overturn a fair and free election by force and violence. In light of the significance of that day, Congress established the bipartisan Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol to investigate and report upon the facts, circumstances, and causes of the insurrection. The Select Committee fulfilled this mission with integrity and a commitment to discovering the truth. Rather than accept accountability, those who perpetrated the January 6th attack have taken every opportunity to undermine and intimidate those who participated in the Select Committee in an attempt to rewrite history, erase the stain of January 6th for partisan gain, and seek revenge, including by threatening criminal prosecutions."
Biden concluded by saying, "I believe in the rule of law, and I am optimistic that the strength of our legal institutions will ultimately prevail over politics. But these are exceptional circumstances, and I cannot in good conscience do nothing. Baseless and politically motivated investigations wreak havoc on the lives, safety, and financial security of targeted individuals and their families. Even when individuals have done nothing wrong—and in fact have done the right thing—and will ultimately be exonerated, the mere fact of being investigated or prosecuted can irreparably damage reputations and finances."
As Biden prepares to exit Washington and conclude more than five decades in politics, he leaves amid low approval ratings.
Following his withdrawal from the 2024 Democratic presidential race, Biden has spent the past several weeks finalizing executive orders that could pose challenges for incoming President Donald Trump.
Despite a brief uptick in poll numbers after his decision to step aside, Biden is leaving office with historically low approval ratings.
RealClearPolitics reports that a recent CNN poll indicates an average net negative rating of 18 percentage points, with 37% approving of his performance and 63% disapproving.