Biden pardons relatives in final hours of presidency

In the final hours of his tenure as president, Joe Biden issued a pardon for several high-profile individuals, including members of his family, General Mark Milley, Dr Anthony Fauci, and some members of Congress. 

According to CNN, this decision was driven by concerns over potential political persecution by Donald Trump in the future.

Biden explained his decision as a necessity to protect against targeted attacks that, he said, serve solely the purpose of harming him and his loved ones. The president stated: «Эти действия — худший пример партийной политики. У меня нет оснований полагать, что подобные нападения прекратятся» (These actions are the worst example of partisan politics. I have no reason to believe that such attacks will stop).

Among those pardoned was General Mark Milley, who previously served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He had repeatedly criticised Donald Trump, calling him a "fascist" and expressing concerns about the former president's authoritarian tendencies.

 Dr Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who played a key role in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, was also included in the list. His work had repeatedly been the target of attacks by Trump supporters.

Biden also pardoned members of Congress who participated in the investigation into the events of 6 January 2021 — the storming of the Capitol. The president noted that their protection was necessary to preserve the country's democratic principles, as threats against them could undermine the independence of the state apparatus.

Biden separately emphasised that his pardon order should not be interpreted as an admission of guilt by any of the pardoned individuals. According to him, this step was taken solely to prevent further politically motivated prosecutions and to ensure the safety of all participants in American democracy.