Biden Issues Last-Minute Pardons for Fauci, Milley, Others

President Joe Biden has granted pardons to several high-profile figures, including former White House Chief Medical Adviser Anthony Fauci and retired General Mark Milley, in a move that has drawn strong political reactions. The decision comes just days before President-elect Donald Trump is set to take office.

Mr. Fauci, who played a central role in the U.S. response to COVID-19, had been accused of perjury for allegedly misleading a congressional committee about funding gain-of-function research in China. His handling of the pandemic has remained a subject of intense debate, with critics blaming him for policy missteps.

Retired General Mark Milley, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was also pardoned after facing accusations of treason. He had been criticized for reportedly assuring Chinese officials during Mr. Trump’s first term that he would not carry out certain presidential orders. Mr. Milley has denied any wrongdoing, defending his actions as efforts to maintain global stability.

Other recipients of Mr. Biden’s pardons include members and staff of the House committee that investigated the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, as well as police officers who testified before the committee. The outgoing president justified the pardons by emphasizing the need to uphold the rule of law amid heightened political tensions.

“I believe in the rule of law, and I am optimistic that the strength of our legal institutions will ultimately prevail over politics,” Mr. Biden said in a statement. “But these are exceptional circumstances, and I cannot in good conscience do nothing.”

President-elect Trump had previously vowed to scrutinize criminal cases involving these individuals, accusing them of using the justice system as a political weapon against him.