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The Biden administration is contemplating issuing pardons for a large group of individuals before Trump’s anticipated actions of seeking retribution against his political opponents by appointing partisan individuals to key law enforcement positions.
Written by Peter Baker and Erica L. Green
Reporting live from the
The staff of President Biden is discussing the possibility of granting pardons to a group of individuals that President-elect Donald J. Trump considers enemies. This is being considered in order to shield them from any retaliation that Trump has indicated he may take once he assumes office.
The concept is to proactively grant executive clemency to a group of current and former government officials for any potential crimes that may have occurred over a span of years. This would prevent the next president from carrying out their promised plan of seeking revenge.
Officials at the White House are concerned that individuals who may not have committed any crimes could face investigations due to President Trump’s appointments to key positions in the Justice Department. These investigations, even if they do not lead to any charges, could be lengthy and costly, potentially harming the individuals’ careers and finances.
The topic of blanket pardons, as first reported by Politico, is currently being discussed mainly among staff members. Sources familiar with the situation, who wished to remain anonymous, said that although President Biden has talked about it with senior team members, it is not yet a formal decision. This discussion follows President Biden’s previous pardon of his son Hunter, who was facing charges related to guns and taxes.
During a briefing on Friday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre avoided talking about blanket pardons. She mentioned that President Biden was looking into potential executive clemency actions before the end of his term, and stated that there would be further updates on the matter.
Mr. Biden hinted at his approach by pardoning his son, clearing him of the charges he was convicted of and any potential crimes he may have been involved in since 2014. This move is likely to prevent the Trump administration’s Justice Department from pursuing Hunter Biden for any accusations that were not deemed worthy of charges by the prosecutor who has been investigating him since Trump’s first term.
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