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The Biden administration is contemplating granting blanket pardons before Trump’s threatened retaliation. Officials in the White House are concerned that Trump’s appointment of highly partisan individuals to key law enforcement positions suggests he may seek retribution against those he views as adversaries.
Written by Peter Baker and Erica L. Green
Updating from the nation
The team working for President Biden is discussing the possibility of granting pardons to a large group of people who are seen as enemies of President-elect Donald J. Trump. This is being considered in order to shield them from any retaliation that Trump has mentioned he may pursue once he becomes president.
The proposal is to proactively grant pardons to a group of present and past government officials for potential offenses committed over a span of years, in order to prevent the incoming president from pursuing revenge against them.
Officials in the White House are concerned that individuals who have not necessarily committed crimes may be targeted by investigations due to President Trump’s choices for Justice Department positions. These investigations, even if they do not lead to charges, could last a long time and result in significant financial strain and damage to the individuals’ careers.
The topic of blanket pardons, as previously mentioned by Politico, is mostly being discussed among staff members, although President Biden has discussed it with senior members of his team. This information comes from sources who are familiar with the situation but wish to remain anonymous. This discussion follows President Biden’s pardon of his son Hunter to prevent him from going to prison for gun and tax offenses.
During a briefing on Friday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre did not want to talk about blanket pardons. She mentioned that President Biden is looking into potential executive clemency actions before the end of his term. Jean-Pierre stated that the president is currently reviewing the situation and more information will be provided in the future.
Mr. Biden hinted at his approach by pardoning his son, clearing him of all charges and any potential crimes he may have been involved in since 2014. This likely prevents any future investigations by the Justice Department under Mr. Trump regarding allegations that were not deemed worthy of charges by the current prosecutor during Trump’s presidency.
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