Joe Biden Makes Major Move on the Very Day Trump Takes Office

In his final hours in the White House, Joe Biden issued a series of high-profile pardons on Monday, shielding Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired Gen. Mark Milley, and other individuals who were speculated to face investigations under the incoming Trump administration.

The pardons were announced as Biden prepared to leave the White House, with President-elect Donald Trump set to be sworn in for his second term.

The sweeping order also extends to individuals connected to the January 6 select committee investigation.

According to the official announcement, the pardon covers “members of Congress and staff who served on the Select Committee, and the U.S. Capitol and D.C. Metropolitan police officers who testified before the Select Committee.”

However, the order notably excludes Special Counsel Jack Smith, FBI Director Christopher Wray, and Attorney General Merrick Garland.

These individuals, who have been the focus of speculation regarding potential accountability under the Trump administration, are not protected by Biden’s final executive action.

The announcement immediately drew sharp criticism from Republican lawmakers and commentators.

Senator Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) criticized Biden’s use of presidential power in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

“The guy who claimed he would ‘protect norms’ continues to bulldoze them and the Constitution until the bitter end. Biden truly is one of the worst Presidents in American history and will only be remembered as the guy between Trump’s two terms,” Schmitt wrote.

The pardons for Fauci and Milley, both of whom have faced significant public scrutiny during their careers, are particularly notable.

Fauci, the former head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, became a polarizing figure during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Milley, who retired as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has also faced criticism for his handling of military affairs and his communications with foreign counterparts during the Trump presidency

The inclusion of individuals associated with the January 6 investigation adds further controversy.

The select committee, which was tasked with investigating the events surrounding the Capitol breach, has been a point of contention, with many Republicans accusing it of political bias.

The decision not to pardon Smith, Wray, or Garland leaves the door open for potential investigations under Trump’s ad ministration

These officials have been linked to decisions and actions that sparked outrage among Trump’s supporters, particularly in connection to investigations targeting the former president.

Biden’s decision to issue these pardons just hours before leaving office underscores the intense political divisions surrounding his administration.

As Trump prepares to take the oath of office, the pardons are likely to fuel debates over accountability, executive authority, and the legacy of Biden’s presidency.

While Biden has framed his presidency as a return to normalcy and a defender of democratic norms, critics argue that the late-stage pardons reflect a deeper erosion of trust in government institutions.

The excluded individuals may face heightened scrutiny under Trump’s second term, further intensifying the political landscape.

As Trump’s administration takes shape, the implications of Biden’s pardons will likely remain a focal point of discussion in Washington and across the nation

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