Outgoing US President Joe Biden is considering the first amnesty for prominent critics of his successor Donald Trump, multiple people familiar with the discussions told CBS, the BBC’s American partner.
That is an attempt to protect them from retaliation after Trump – who has vowed to take revenge on his opponents – takes office.
CBS reports that although Biden is said to have had a debate about the possibility of issuing amnesty with top White House aides, no specific names have been officially recommended to him.
Sources told AFP that officials are also considering a message to send to pardon people who did not commit crimes.
That is behind the current argument Biden’s unconditional pardon of his son Hunterwho was due to face sentencing this month on federal gun and tax charges.
Republicans and some Democrats criticized the move, which came after the president had said he would not take this step.
US media reports say that those who may be in line for a pardon before the appearance of Biden include Dr. Anthony Fauci, who has been critical of Trump’s response to Covid, and California Senator-elect Adam Schiff, who led the first impeachment effort against Trump.
Other Democrats who, like Schiff, have played a role in Trump’s impeachment proceedings, or are investigating 2021 US Capitol riotsthey can be given again.
In an interview with NPR last month, Schiff said he doesn’t think early pardons are a good idea because he believes the courts can withstand Donald Trump’s threats.
“I think this is so obviously unlikely that it doesn’t deserve much consideration,” he said of reports that such a pardon is being considered.
“I would urge the president not to do that. I think it would be seen as defensive and unnecessary.”
The Press Secretary at the White House, Karine Jean-Pierre, said earlier this week that it is expected that President Biden will be pardoned again before the end of his term in January, but did not provide any further details.
“He thinks about that process very carefully.”
Among those who could be granted a traditional presidential pardon are those committed by non-violent law enforcement officers or others who have served time for various crimes, CBS reported.
Donald Trump is not the only person who can threaten to retaliate against those who are perceived to have opposed him in the past. The nominee for FBI director, Kash Patel, said he will go after politicians and members of the media who, without evidence, helped to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in the US.
“We’re going to go after you, whether it’s criminal or civil,” Patel said.
“We will find that out. But yes, we are reporting to all of you… In fact, we will use the Constitution to prosecute them for the crimes they said we have always had but we never had.”
Democratic Congressman Brendan Boyle responded by saying he thinks Biden should issue amnesty to those targeted on what he calls Donald Trump’s “enemies list”.
“By selecting Kash Patel as his FBI Director, Trump has made it clear that he is more focused on settling scores than protecting the American people or upholding the law,” Boyle said.
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