Biden pardons Anthony Fauci, Liz Cheney, Mark Milley

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Joe Biden preemptively pardoned Anthony Fauci, Liz Cheney and Mark Milley hours before ceding the US presidency to Donald Trump, who vowed revenge on political foes .

The outgoing president's last-ditch effort to protect high-profile figures from possible future prosecutions comes after Biden took full advantage of his clemency powers before leaving the White House.

It also comes ahead of what many expect will be a flurry of activity from Trump once he takes office later on Monday.

Trump allies, including his former strategist Steve Bannon and U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, have called for the prosecution of Fauci, the president's former chief medical adviser. His role in overseeing the U.S. response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The incoming president himself retweeted a photo on social media of Fauci wearing an orange jumpsuit and other political opponents.

Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has a longstanding feud with Trump, warning before last year's election that Trump was “a fascist at heart.”

On Monday, Milley said he and his family were “deeply grateful” for Biden's action, adding: “After 43 years of loyal service to our country, protecting and defending the Constitution, I don't want to spend the rest of my time Spend it on God” empowers me to fight those who unjustly seek revenge for perceived slights. “

Cheney is a prominent Republican who campaigned for Kamala Harris in last year's presidential election and served as deputy chair of the congressional inquiry into the Jan. 6, 2021, storming of the U.S. Capitol.

Trump retweeted a post on his Truth Social website last year accusing Cheney of treason and said: “If you want to televise a military court, tell the truth.”

Biden said he was pardoning members of Congress and staff on the committee, as well as police officers who testified.

“It is appalling that public servants are continually threatened and intimidated for faithfully carrying out their duties,” he said in a statement.

The outgoing president controversially pardoned his son Hunter Biden last year, sparing him from possible prison time for federal gun and tax convictions and any other potential crimes he had been investigated for since 2014 .

Trump is expected to pardon some of the rioters convicted of storming the Capitol at the start of his second term as they seek to prevent the certification of Biden's victory.

The incoming president has vowed to shake up U.S. law enforcement agencies, including the Justice Department and FBI, during his second term, raising concerns that he will more aggressively use the agencies to target his political and personal opponents. .

In recent years, Trump has frequently criticized what he calls the “weaponization” of the Justice Department against him. He faces federal prosecution for mishandling classified documents and trying to overturn the election results.