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The Biden administration is considering issuing blanket pardons before Trump’s promised retaliation. White House officials are concerned that Trump’s appointments of strongly partisan individuals to key law enforcement positions suggest he may seek revenge against those he sees as his enemies.
Written by Peter Baker and Erica L. Green
Updating 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 potential retribution that Trump has mentioned after he assumes office.
One suggestion is to grant pardons in advance to a group of current and former government officials for any potential crimes committed over several years, therefore preventing the next president from carrying out any planned retaliations.
Officials at the White House are concerned that President Trump’s choices for key positions in the Justice Department suggest he may seek retribution, even without evidence of wrongdoing. They fear that investigations, even if they do not lead to charges, could be lengthy and expensive, potentially damaging the careers of those involved.
Talk of blanket pardons has been primarily at a staff level, as reported by Politico. While President Biden has discussed it with senior members of his team, the details have not been made public and those familiar with the situation have chosen to remain anonymous. This discussion 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, Karine Jean-Pierre, who is the White House press secretary, chose not to talk about blanket pardons. However, she mentioned that President Biden is thinking about potential executive clemency actions overall before his term ends. She stated, "The president is currently evaluating what steps to take next, and there will be more information in the future."
Mr. Biden hinted at his approach by pardoning his son, clearing him of all charges he was convicted of and any potential crimes he may have been involved in since 2014. This will likely prevent the Trump administration’s Justice Department from pursuing Hunter Biden for any allegations that were not deemed worthy of charges by the prosecutor who has been investigating him since Trump’s first term.
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