- Presidents often issue pardons before leaving office
- Biden has pardoned several more people before Donald Trump’s inauguration
- These are to prevent “unjustified… politically motivated prosecutions”
Joe Biden is on his way out of the White House, but in what could be his final act as President, he has pre-emptively pardoned a number of people.
Read more: What time is the presidential inauguration today?
These include Covid response chief Anthony Fauci and the members of the January 6 riot investigation committee. Another pre-emptive pardon went to the retired general Mark Milley, who has described incoming President Donald Trump as “fascist to the core” and “dangerous”.
“Our nation owes these public servants a debt of gratitude for their tireless commitment,” said Biden.
A statement from the White House read: “These public servants have served our nation with honour and distinction and do not deserve to be the targets of unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions,” the White House statement says.
“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 offence.”
Why has Biden issued these pardons?
It’s normal for presidents to issue pardons when they leave the White House, but this is a rather different occasion.
These pre-emptive pardons are an unprecedented move by Biden, designed to prevent Trump seeking retribution against some of his most vocal critics. Indeed, never before have pre-emptive pardons been issued on this scale.
“These are exceptional circumstances, and I cannot in good conscience do nothing,” Biden wrote in a statement. “Baseless and politically motivated investigations wreak havoc on the lives, safety and financial security of targeted individuals and their families.”
When does Donald Trump take office?
Trump officially returns to the White House as the 47th president today.
Read more: Everything we know about Donald Trump’s inauguration
Trump’s swearing-in ceremony is kicking off at 12.pm Eastern time. Coverage is expected to begin slightly earlier than midday and will cover the President-Elect’s journey to St. John’s Church where he will attend a service.
His second Presidential Inauguration will take place inside the Capitol Rotunda. The ceremony has been moved indoors due to extreme cold weather conditions. It will be the first time the event has happened inside a venue in over 30 years, with the last indoor inauguration happening in 1985 during Ronald Reagan’s second term.
For those not local to Washington, the swearing-in ceremony will take place at 9am Pacific time and 5pm Greenwich Mean Time.
