Japan Today
world

Biden pardons Fauci, Milley, Cheney, others to guard against potential 'revenge' by Trump

40 Comments
By COLLEEN LONG and ZEKE MILLER

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

©2025 GPlusMedia Inc.


40 Comments

Comments have been disabled You can no longer respond to this thread.

I think of it as an attention assist mechanism to help the incoming MAGAs to do their jobs.

-3 ( +6 / -9 )

More Biden nastiness.

Innocent people don't need a pardon.

-6 ( +13 / -19 )

“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 offense,” Biden said in a statement. “Our nation owes these public servants a debt of gratitude for their tireless commitment to our country.”

(⌒▽⌒)

1 ( +8 / -7 )

JJEToday 07:17 am JST

More Biden nastiness.

Innocent people don't need a pardon.

They do if they are being targeted by terrorists.

-2 ( +11 / -13 )

This type of pardon is a terrible precedence. Many members of the Democratic party including Senate Leader Schumer, a strong Biden supporter, said it was a very bad idea. Fmr President Bill Clinton said he "hopes he won't do that". If this endures legal challenges, any future president could enlist criminal allies to do their crimes and then give them lifetime immunity.

Biden and others have said Trump was such a "threat to Democracy" but they just set a precedence and handed him a tool he could use to orchestrate any crime he wants, and the criminals can walk away free.

2 ( +10 / -8 )

They do if they are being targeted by terrorists.

Wrong, pre-pardoning someone on something that’s alleged has never been done, that tells you right away someone smells fishy. Look, Biden know how guilty everyone of these people were that’s why he did that, no one is surprised, but in the end, they all failed, every single attempt. And if they’re so innocent, they could have shown up, quite a few Trump-haters were there, but ironically, everyone that tried to ask him out of power was not there in attendance, interesting….

-1 ( +9 / -10 )

À pardon for what?

Obviously, there is a presumption of wrongdoing in order to receive a pardon.

Just more vileness shuffled under the carpet to fester…

2 ( +11 / -9 )

What shame the now thankfully former administration brought to America. One thing is for sure the left loves to self project!it was back in 2020 that the leftist pundits where on tv claiming if Trump gives preemptive pardons that would be illegal and unconstitutional but it would prove he was a criminal! and now the same people claiming Biden did right thing to protect actual criminals.

CNN which is one of the worst is claiming there is a difference between Biden pardoning these individuals and Trump wanting to pardon innocent January 6th protesters. Unbelievable sickness of the left! Hypocrisy is their motto!

-2 ( +6 / -8 )

Any pardon without investigation and acknowledgement of guilt is meaningless.

Those people should still be investigated and if found guilty prosecuted.

2 ( +10 / -8 )

There will be a major investigation into who signed these order’s because clearly we have known for some time now that Biden hasn’t been running the country.

Don’t forget pardons are for federal purposes not state and local!

-4 ( +5 / -9 )

Don’t forget pardons are for federal purposes not state and local

You sound very authoritative. Have you read half of the material ever written on this?

 Unbelievable sickness of the left

Are they very dishonest?

-1 ( +9 / -10 )

Jimizo you are one of many leftist who I’m referring to when it comes to hypocrisy and self projection

-3 ( +7 / -10 )

Fauci now made untouchable?? How do you like them apples?

Is there any doubt what the democrats became anymore? Like any? Corrupt and self serving to the core, all this while having the gaul to warn us of a rising OLIGARCHY in his final address ( middle finger ) to the nation!

Bye bye Biden, his enablers and handlers. Like a priest that molests those he was supposed to serve, there’s a special place in hell awaiting!

5 ( +13 / -8 )

There will be a major investigation into who signed these order’s because clearly we have known for some time now that Biden hasn’t been running the country.

Biden signed them. Do you think his cunning, nameless 'handlers' would be stupid enough to sign them themselves, thus rendering the pardons invalid?

Even childish ghost stories need a bit of common sense.

1 ( +7 / -6 )

The only way to interpret the pardons is that crimes where planned, committed and hidden.

2 ( +10 / -8 )

Innocent people are accused of crimes every day. Especially in countries run by dictators.

More Biden nastiness.

Innocent people don't need a pardon.

2 ( +9 / -7 )

Preemptive pardons? What will they think of next! The legality of this should be challenged and adjudicated by the Supreme Court.

4 ( +9 / -5 )

JJE

More Biden nastiness.

Innocent people don't need a pardon.

The problem is that for the first time in US history, the president can’t be trusted not to vindictively go after people who he thinks slighted him.

This a petulant child of a president. And so preemptive measures are necessary.

0 ( +6 / -6 )

Good. The MAGA-crazies will turn the DOJ into Trump's personal vendetta agency - the same as what Putin, his Master, has in Russia...

-4 ( +6 / -10 )

About preemptive pardons…

They do if they are being targeted by terrorists.

Wrong, pre-pardoning someone on something that’s alleged has never been done…

Wrong. Factually wrong.

Three U.S. presidents before Biden issued preemptive pardons.

-2 ( +6 / -8 )

Wow so the DOJ sent out this letter and honestly I’m not surprised! So once again by their hypocrisy all of the Pardons Biden just gave means they’re all guilty!

The Justice Department sent a message

Wednesday to Jan. 6 defendants: Accepting a pardon from Donald Trump is "a confession of guilt" for your crimes.

"[A] pardon at some unspecified date in the future ... would not unring the bell of conviction," federal prosecutors argued in a Jan. 6 case before U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols. "In fact, quite the opposite. The defendant would first have to accept the pardon, which necessitates a confession of guilt."

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

It's a sad state of affairs when one of the most respected medical scientists in the world (he's one of the most cited researchers) has to be protected against an avalanche of ignorance. But then again, the US in its current state seems to regard ignorance as one of the cardinal virtues.

1 ( +8 / -7 )

It's a sad state of affairs when one of the most respected medical scientists in the world (he's one of the most cited researchers) has to be protected against an avalanche of ignorance. But then again, the US in its current state seems to regard ignorance as one of the cardinal virtues.

I’m just happy we won’t see his face anymore

-3 ( +7 / -10 )

Nothing to see here. Move along...

Seriously, after literally YEARS of leftist lies, smears, real distortion of and weaponizing of justice for political purposes....the left have....only excuses for this obvious attempt to wipe the left's crimes clean. "Preemptively". LOL.

Their hipocrisy simply beggars belief. If only they hadn't been rank hipocrites all this time, one might actually be shocked at this unprecedented "preemptive pardoning" of the supposedly innocent? As it is, sadly, this was all par for the course!

2 ( +6 / -4 )

Fixed the quotation:

About preemptive pardons…

They do if they are being targeted by terrorists.

Wrong, pre-pardoning someone on something that’s alleged has never been done…

Wrong. Factually wrong.

Three U.S. presidents before Biden issued preemptive pardons.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Guilty as Hell

1 ( +8 / -7 )

Guilty as Hell

Written in bold.

Must be correct.

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

What a shameful end to a horrific Presidency.

2 ( +9 / -7 )

Written in bold.

Must be correct.

Biden pardoned someone not even charged...must be guilty

2 ( +7 / -5 )

A "preemptive pardon"! So now he states that these swamp actors are, in fact, guilty.

Lets see how many of them refuse this pardon and clearly state they are not guilty.

Interesting times ahead..... while I hate US political global interference, I must say I admire how they are able to wash their dirty laundry in public.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

And Trump will pardon all the terrorist from Jan 6 attack..

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Zaphod

A "preemptive pardon"! So now he states that these swamp actors are, in fact, guilty.

Lets see how many of them refuse this pardon and clearly state they are not guilty.

They possibly would if anyone other than Trump was president.

But he said that he would use the DOJ go after his enemies. That’s unprecedented.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

And Trump will pardon all the terrorist from Jan 6 attack..

Ahh, liberals call them terrorists because you protest your country's election, so that means liberals who riot are also terrorists.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

It's a sad state of affairs when one of the most respected medical scientists in the world (he's one of the most cited researchers) has to be protected against an avalanche of ignorance. But then again, the US in its current state seems to regard ignorance as one of the cardinal virtues.

Yeah, this is pretty much spot on.

Anthony Fauci spent his career studying viruses and so forth. He was given one of the highest civilian awards (notably by G W Bush, a Republican president), he's simply one of the most respected medical experts out there. The number of people with his level of knowledge in the same field is very, very small. The fact that he was demonised by people who probably couldn't even read the abstract of one of his papers without the need for a dictionary and an educated person standing by, really does sum up the staggering anti-intellectualism that has taken over the US in recent times.

It was right to pardon him, but the fact that it was considered necessary to do so is even more damning.

Meanwhile Trump is set to pardon people who smeared human waste on the walls of one of the most important and symbolic buildings in the country.

Taking MAGA out of the equation, I think most people can see how utterly ludicrous the US looks right now.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

What a shameful end to a horrific Presidency.

Still mad, still angry, even though your side won.

That's what happens when literally the only reason you wanted him to win is because you hate the other side.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

It was right to pardon him,

Based on what? 

but the fact that it was considered necessary to do so is even more damning.

Well, now Fauci can't take the 5th anymore when he is called to testify.

Meanwhile Trump is set to pardon people who smeared human waste on the walls of one of the most important and symbolic buildings in the country. 

You can clean that up, you can't clean what Fauci did.

Taking MAGA out of the equation, I think most people can see how utterly ludicrous the US looks right now.

The majority of us Americans overwhelmingly don't care what the world thinks.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Still mad, still angry, even though your side won.

Speaking of mad and angry, I see a ton of that this morning from your side. Maybe seething would be the best way to describe it.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Speaking of mad and angry, I see a ton of that this morning from your side. Maybe seething would be the best way to describe it.

Maybe some of them are. Personally I'm not "seething". Waste of energy and bad for the nerves. Disappointed, sure. Gritting my teeth and going red? No point. Changes nothing.

But I bet that the Trump supporters on here are going to keep being angry, no matter what. He could follow through on every promise he made, and they'll still be mad, because their entire ideology behind following him is based on him making them angry. It's their political raison d'etre. It's what keeps them going. Rage is their fuel. You can tell in the way they write.

I live in Japan and I am going to enjoy watching the USA collapse under the weight of its self-hatred. They chose it, now they get to live with it.

I will likely be getting permanent residency here within a couple of years, and I have already decided that I have no good reason to return to the USA outside of family related things. It's not the country I knew. It's marching straight into a very dark place and apparently enjoying the process.

I've said this before, but I actually have more disdain for the people who didn't vote at all. If you voted for Trump, I disagree entirely with your vote and I think you've damned the country to a terrible future, but at least you exercised the right to cast that vote. I like the Australian system where you legally have to vote (unless you're in a small group which are exempt). They always have a major turnout. The Americans who sat back and did nothing are the real villains here.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

It was the right move.

It’s sad because Trump was clearly guilty of treason. To have not conducted an investigation would have been a dereliction of duty. Now those people are threatened for doing their duty. Nonsense!

Unfortunately, Trump has many republican enablers in the Senate and Congress.

They may get away with this attempt at whitewashing for the moment, but history will remember all of them and unfavorably I might add.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

More proof that show Biden was unfit for office.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites