In one of his last uses of presidential power, outgoing President Joe Biden has granted pardons to General Mark Milley and Anthony Fauci to prevent any investigation.
Henzodaily reports that the pardon protects the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Defence, General Milley; the former Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Dr. Fauci and members and staff of the Select Committee that investigated the January 6th attack on the Capitol in 2021 from prosecution from the incoming Donald Trump’s presidency.
Biden said these public servants served the nation with honour and distinction and did not deserve to be the targets of unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions.
“On January 6, 2021, American democracy was tested when a mob of insurrectionists attacked the Capitol in an attempt to overturn a fair and free election by force and violence.
“In light of the significance of that day, Congress established the bipartisan Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol to investigate and report upon the facts, circumstances, and causes of the insurrection.
“The Select Committee fulfilled this mission with integrity and a commitment to discovering the truth. Rather than accept accountability, those who perpetrated the January 6th attack have taken every opportunity to undermine and intimidate those who participated in the Select Committee in an attempt to rewrite history, erase the stain of January 6th for partisan gain, and seek revenge, including by threatening criminal prosecutions,” he said.
In a statement published on his X handle, the 46th President of the United States stated that he was worried Milley, Fauci and members of the committee may be subjected to political investigation.
“I believe in the rule of law, and I am optimistic that the strength of our legal institutions will ultimately prevail over politics. But these are exceptional circumstances, and I cannot in good conscience do nothing.
“Baseless and politically motivated investigations wreak havoc on the lives, safety, and financial security of targeted individuals and their families. Even when individuals have done nothing wrong—and in fact have done the right thing—and will ultimately be exonerated, the mere fact of being investigated or prosecuted can irreparably damage reputations and finances.
“That is why I am exercising my authority under the Constitution to pardon General Mark A. Milley, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the Members of Congress and staff who served on the Select Committee, and the U.S. Capitol and D.C. Metropolitan police officers who testified before the Select Committee.
“The issuance of these pardons should not be mistaken as an acknowledgment that any individual engaged in any wrongdoing, nor should acceptance be misconstrued as an admission of guilt for any offense. Our nation owes these public servants a debt of gratitude for their tireless commitment to our country,” he stated.