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The Biden team is reportedly discussing the possibility of issuing blanket pardons before Trump’s expected retaliatory actions against his opponents. This comes as White House officials are concerned that Trump’s appointment of individuals with strong partisan affiliations to key law enforcement positions suggests he may seek retribution against those he views as enemies.
Written by Peter Baker and Erica L. Green
Writing from the capital
President Biden’s team is discussing the possibility of granting pardons to a group of individuals who are seen as enemies of President-elect Donald J. Trump. This is being considered in order to shield them from the retaliation that Trump has promised once he assumes office. Sources familiar with the conversation have revealed this information.
The proposal is to proactively grant pardons to a group of current and former government officials for any potential offenses committed over a span of time, in order to prevent the next president from carrying out their planned retaliation against them.
Officials at the White House are concerned that President Trump’s choices for key positions in the Justice Department suggest he may act on his promises of seeking retribution. They do not believe the individuals targeted have committed any crimes. Even if no charges are brought, the investigations could be lengthy and expensive, potentially damaging the individuals’ careers.
The topic of blanket pardons is currently being discussed among staff members, although President Biden has also discussed it with senior members of his team. This information comes from sources who are familiar with the situation and spoke anonymously to share details about internal discussions. This conversation follows President Biden’s decision to pardon his son Hunter for gun and tax charges in order to prevent him from going to prison.
During a briefing on Friday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre chose not to talk about blanket pardons. She did mention that President Biden is looking into potential executive clemency actions before his term ends. Jean-Pierre stated that the president is currently reviewing his options and more information will be shared in the future.
Mr. Biden hinted at his strategy by pardoning his son, clearing him of all charges and any potential crimes he may have been involved in since 2014. This likely means that the Justice Department under Mr. Trump will not pursue any new allegations against Hunter Biden that were not deemed worthy of charges by the prosecutor investigating him during Trump’s presidency.
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