In a final statement released to the press, President Joe Biden announced pardons for several key public figures, emphasizing the unjust and politically motivated nature of investigations targeting them. Among those granted clemency were General Mark A. Milley, Dr. Anthony Fauci, members of the Select Committee that investigated the January 6th Capitol insurrection, and law enforcement officers who testified during the hearings.
Biden defended the pardons, asserting that these individuals, who have served the nation with distinction, should not be the targets of baseless and politically driven prosecutions. He specifically pointed to the damage such investigations can cause to reputations, safety, and financial security, even when the individuals involved have done nothing wrong.
“Even when individuals have done nothing wrong—and in fact have done the right thing—and will ultimately be exonerated, the mere fact of being investigated or prosecuted can irreparably damage reputations and finances,” Biden said in his statement.
The president lauded General Milley for his more than 40 years of military service and praised Dr. Fauci for his decades-long contributions to public health, including managing responses to HIV/AIDS, Ebola, Zika, and most notably, the COVID-19 pandemic. Fauci, Biden noted, had “saved countless lives” by leading the government’s efforts during the global health crisis.
Biden also highlighted the work of the bipartisan Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol. Despite facing criticism and threats from those seeking to rewrite the events of that day, the committee “fulfilled this mission with integrity and a commitment to discovering the truth,” Biden said.
The pardons come amid a climate of increasing partisan attacks against public servants, with some individuals threatened with criminal investigations. In his statement, Biden acknowledged that while he believes in the rule of law, the exceptional circumstances surrounding these figures warranted his intervention.
Reacting to the announcement, General Milley expressed gratitude, saying he and his family were “deeply grateful” for the pardon. “After forty-three years of faithful service in uniform to our nation, protecting and defending the Constitution, I do not wish to spend whatever remaining time the Lord grants me fighting those who unjustly might seek retribution for perceived slights,” Milley told CNN.
Dr. Fauci, as well as members of the January 6th Select Committee, have not yet commented on the pardon, and it remains unclear whether they will accept it.
In his conclusion, Biden underscored that these pardons should not be mistaken for an acknowledgment of any wrongdoing. “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,” he clarified. “Our nation owes these public servants a debt of gratitude for their tireless commitment to our country.”
