Biden issues preemptive pardons to committee and witnesses Anthony Fauci and Mark Milley on January 6

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden issued a series of pardons Monday morning with just hours left in his inauguration, preemptively protecting people whom President-elect Donald Trump has threatened.

Biden pardoned former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley, Dr. Anthony Fauci, members and staff of the committee investigating the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, as well as those who testified before the committee at the Capitol and Washington, D.C. police.

Members of the panel include Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., then a member of the House; former Reps. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., D-Va. Elaine Luria, D-Fla., and Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla.; current members of the House include Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., and Jamey Lofgren, D-Md. Raskin and Mississippi Democrat Bennie Thompson.

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Police officers who testified before the commission included Harry Dunn, Aquilino Gonell, Michael Fanon and Daniel Hodges.

Biden said in a statement that some of the people he preemptively pardoned were “threatened with criminal prosecution” and that he “cannot in good conscience stand by and watch.”

“These public servants have served our country with honor and distinction and should not be the targets of unjust and politically motivated prosecutions,” he wrote.

The president said Milley served the United States for more than 40 years, “guiding our armed forces against complex global security threats, strengthening our existing alliances while building new ones.” He said Fauci served the United States through the response to HIV/AIDS, Ebola and Zika saved lives, then helped the country “deal with a once-in-a-century pandemic.”

Biden defended members of the Jan. 6 committee and lashed out at those who attacked and threatened them — though he did not mention Trump by name. The president-elect said members of the January 6 Party should be investigated and jailed.

“Rather than accept responsibility, the perpetrators of the January 6th attack took every opportunity to undermine and intimidate those participating in the Select Committee, attempted to rewrite history, erase the stain of January 6th for partisan gain, and sought revenge, including Threatening criminal prosecution,” Biden wrote.

“The baseless and politically motivated investigation wreaks havoc on the lives, safety and financial security of targeted individuals and their families,” Biden said.

“Even if an individual did nothing wrong and actually did the right thing and is ultimately exonerated, the mere fact of being investigated or prosecuted can cause irreparable reputational and financial damage,” he said.

The president said the pardons should not be misconstrued as an admission that the men committed wrongdoing.

Milley said in a statement that he and his family are “deeply grateful for the president's actions today.”

“For forty-three years, I have faithfully served our country, protected and defended the Constitution, and I do not want to spend the remaining time the Lord has given me fighting against those who unjustly seek revenge,” he said. “I do not want to spend the remaining time the Lord has given me.” “I leave my family, friends, and those I serve with with the distraction, expense, and anxiety this creates.”