Fauci, Schiff and Cheney considered for preemptive pardons by Biden White House
President Biden’s White House is reportedly considering preemptive pardons for Dr. Anthony Fauci, Sen.-elect Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and former Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo. White House counsel Ed Siskel is arranging discussions about the potential pardons with several other senior Biden aides, including chief of staff Jeff Zients, according to Politico.
The president, who recently granted a sweeping pardon to his son Hunter, has reportedly not been involved in the deliberations. The discussions have included whether Fauci, Schiff, and Cheney would even accept preemptive pardons, as it could suggest wrongdoing and further fuel criticisms from President-elect Trump’s team.
Schiff told Politico that he urges the president not to proceed with the preemptive pardons, calling it defensive and unnecessary. The White House has not responded to requests for comment from Fox News Digital.
The talks of preemptive pardons were reportedly driven by Trump’s appointment of Kash Patel as the next FBI director, amid concerns of possible inquiries or indictments once the new administration takes office in January. Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Pa., had previously called on Biden to issue blanket pardons when Patel’s nomination was announced, citing concerns over potential political retribution.
Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., also voiced support for preemptive pardons last week, drawing parallels to former President Gerald Ford’s pardon of Richard Nixon. Markey emphasized the need for preemptive pardons if revenge is the intention of the outgoing administration.
Both Schiff and Cheney led the Jan. 6 select committee that investigated the U.S. Capitol riot. Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), is under renewed scrutiny following the release of a House subcommittee report on the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The report found that COVID-19 likely originated from a lab in Wuhan, China, and criticized Fauci for downplaying the lab-leak theory. It also accused Fauci of misleading the public regarding NIH funding of gain-of-function research at coronavirus labs and providing vague testimony on COVID-19 mitigation measures.
As discussions around preemptive pardons continue, the political landscape remains tense. The potential pardons could have far-reaching implications for the individuals involved and further ignite partisan divisions. Only time will tell how President Biden and his administration navigate this complex and controversial issue.
