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The Biden administration is reportedly discussing the possibility of granting blanket pardons before President Trump’s promised retaliation. The White House is concerned that Trump’s appointments of partisan individuals to key law enforcement positions suggest he may seek retribution against those he sees as 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 considered enemies of President-elect Donald J. Trump. This is being considered in order to shield them from any potential retribution that Trump has mentioned after he assumes office.
The proposal is to proactively grant executive clemency to a group of present and past government officials for potential offenses committed over several years, essentially preventing the incoming president from pursuing retribution as promised during their campaign.
Officials at the White House are concerned that although the potential recipients have not committed any crimes, they fear that President Trump’s choices for key positions in the Justice Department suggest that he will act on his promises to seek retribution. Even if an investigation does not lead to any charges, it could still be prolonged for a long period of time, causing financial strain due to legal fees and hindering their career advancement.
The topic of blanket pardons is currently being discussed at a lower level within the administration, although President Biden has mentioned it to senior staff members. Sources familiar with the situation, who requested anonymity, have revealed that these discussions have not yet reached a higher level. This discussion follows President Biden’s pardon of his son Hunter for gun and tax offenses 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 but mentioned that President Biden is looking into potential executive clemency actions before his term ends. She stated that the president is currently reviewing what to do next and more information will be shared in the future.
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 Justice Department under Mr. Trump from pursuing Hunter Biden for any allegations that were not deemed worthy of charges by the prosecutor who has been investigating him since the start of Mr. Trump’s presidency.
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