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The Biden administration is contemplating granting blanket pardons before Trump carries out his promised acts of revenge. White House officials are concerned that Trump’s appointment of highly partisan individuals to key law enforcement positions suggests he plans to seek retribution against those he views as his adversaries.
Written by Peter Baker and Erica L. Green
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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 to shield them from any retribution that Trump has indicated he may seek once he assumes office.
The proposal involves granting pardons in advance to a group of current and former government officials to prevent the incoming president from seeking retribution for any potential crimes committed over the years.
Officials at the White House are concerned that President Trump’s choices for key positions at the Justice Department suggest he may act on his promises of retaliation. While they do not believe the individuals being considered have committed any crimes, the fear is that even an investigation without charges could be lengthy and costly in terms of legal fees and damage to their careers.
According to sources familiar with the matter who spoke anonymously, discussions about blanket pardons have been happening among staff members, although President Biden has also talked about it with senior members of his team. This comes after President Biden pardoned his son Hunter to prevent him from going to prison for gun and tax charges.
During a briefing on Friday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre chose not to talk about blanket pardons, but mentioned that President Biden is looking into potential executive clemency actions before his term ends. Jean-Pierre stated, "The president is currently evaluating what to do next and there will be more information to follow."
Mr. Biden hinted at his future approach by pardoning his son, clearing not only the charges he was found guilty of, but also any potential crimes he may have been involved in since 2014. This move is likely to prevent any future investigations or charges brought against Hunter Biden by the Justice Department under the Trump administration.
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