WASHINGTON: Presi­dent Joe Biden is considering pre-emptive pardons for several prominent names facing possible retribution from the incoming Trump administration, US media reported on Friday.

Among those being considered for the historic pardons are Anthony Fauci, the former White House special adviser on Covid-19, and former Republican lawmaker Liz Cheney, who has become a fierce critic of Donald Trump.

The president-elect has made no secret of his desire to exact vengeance against critics and those he claims stole the 2020 election from him.Biden has discussed with advisors the possibility of using his constitutional power to protectively issue preemptive pardons — even to people yet to be charged with any crime — before he leaves the White House on January 20.

The discussions were reported by Politico and later by the New York Times, CBS News and the Washington Post, all citing anonymous sources close to the talks.

Biden sparked controversy on Sunday when, in a reversal, he pardoned his son Hunter, who was due to be sentenced this month in cases involving a gun purchase and tax fraud.

Democratic Represen­tative Adam Schiff of California, who served as lead manager during the first Senate impeachment of Trump, and retired general Mark Milley might also be in line for pre-emptive pardons to shield them from Trump.

Published in Dawn, December 7th, 2024