Schiff Weighing Rejection of Biden’s Pardon for J6 Committee Amid Controversy

Schiff Weighing Rejection of Biden’s Pardon for J6 Committee Amid Controversy

California Democratic Senator Adam Schiff is reportedly considering refusing a pardon issued by former President Joe Biden to all individuals involved in the Congressional investigation of the January 6th Capitol riot, including himself.

Speaking on NBC’s “Meet The Press,” Schiff discussed possible “blowback” from accepting the pardon, especially since he had previously asserted—during former President Donald Trump’s first term—that accepting a pardon was tantamount to an “admission of guilt.”

“And of course President Biden did issue pardons to members of the January 6th Committee. You were on the January 6th Committee. It came after President Trump said that he thought the entire January 6th Committee should go to jail. What’s interesting, Senator, you had been quite vocal. You didn’t want President Biden to give you a pardon. You went so far as to convey that to the White House. So, what are you going to do about the fact that you’ve now been given a pardon? Are you going to accept it, or are you planning to look for some type of legal recourse to reject it?” host Kristen Welker asked Schiff.

“We’re looking at it. I’m not sure there’s much to be done given that it went to the whole committee. This is also, I think, unprecedented. You know, in the first instance it was a result of the president threatening – wrongfully threatening to go after people who oversee this misconduct in a legitimate committee process. Nevertheless, we’ll have to look at this as a committee to see if there’s anything to be done,” Schiff responded.

Welker pressed further: “What does that mean, you’re going to ‘look at it’? Does that mean that you’ll make a decision collectively about whether to accept these pardons?”

Schiff replied: “We have tried to operate together as a committee. And I think the law is unclear because this is, frankly, uncharted territory, whether pardons of this nature are like a law in which you’re powerless to say yea or nay, or there’s something different.”

“It is quite murky. But it sounds like what you’re saying is, ‘We’ll look at it,’ but most likely, you’re going to have to accept this pardon whether you like it or not,” Welker remarked.

Schiff added, “It may not be actionable one way or another unless there is actually some kind of bogus effort to prosecute the committee.”

WATCH:

As part of a series of last-minute pardons aimed at protecting allies from potential retaliation under the incoming Trump administration, President Biden extended clemency to select individuals—though the decision has created legal complications for some recipients.

Among those granted pardons were former Wyoming Republican Representative and Jan. 6 Committee co-chair Liz Cheney, as well as Dr. Anthony Fauci. According to Biden’s aides, the move was intended to prevent any retaliatory actions from Trump or his administration.

However, legal analysts have pointed out that these pardons do not exempt the recipients from testifying under oath if subpoenaed.

Federal litigation attorney Jesse Binnall noted that Biden’s pardons do not protect Cheney or Fauci from perjury consequences should they be summoned before a GOP-led Congress. He argued that these pardons could, in fact, be “great news” for those seeking legal action against them.

“The pardons are actually great news. No one who was just pardoned will be able to refuse to testify in a civil, criminal, or congressional proceeding based upon the 5th Amendment,” Binnall posted on X, adding another pointed remark.

“And let’s just be realistic. Most of these disgusting individuals would probably have to be charged in Washington, DC, which doesn’t convict partisan leftists,” wrote Binnall, who previously served as an attorney for President Donald Trump.

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