Democrats and the media want Joe Biden to issue preemptive pardons to people that might be on Trump’s list of enemies. Normally a pardon indicates guilt but in this case there’s the claim that it would block from Trump targeted those against him. Establishment media members have been particularly vocal about a preemptive pardon, encouraging him to act immediately to issue these.
Democrats want more pardons
Suggested pardons include Christopher Wray, Justice Department lawyers, the whole Biden family, Liz Cheney, Mark Milley, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Adam Kinzinger and even a self pardon. Democrat Ed Markey suggested that if Trump’s motives proved clear on the day he’s sworn in, this should happen.
“If it’s clear by January 19th that [revenge] is his intention, then I would recommend to President Biden that he provide those preemptive pardons to people, because that’s really what our country is going to need next year.” Amy Klobuchar spoke about this late November in relation to Trump nominating Pam Bondi. “Does it concern me that revenge would be part of her mission? Of course it does.”
Democrats protecting themselves
Jill Wine-Banks is a former assistant Watergate special prosecutor. She was “relieved and thrilled” Biden pardoned his son and encouraged the preemptive pardons for those “threatened by the injustice”. Wine-Banks also spoke to MSNBC’s Jonathan Capehart.
“I hope that President Biden will also issue preemptive pardons to all of those people threatened by the injustice of what will become the Department of Justice in the Trump administration. That, of course, includes Jack Smith and all of his staff, many Department of Justice lawyers. It includes President Biden himself, although we don’t know that anyone can legally pardon themselves. He will need a pardon because he is going to be harassed and charged for no crimes whatsoever. Donald Trump has promised that.”
Justice Department attorney Paul Rosenzweig wrote, “People on it [the list] are in danger. I shudder to think of other possibilities.” Rosenzweig thought of Cheney, Milley, Hillary Clinton, Robert Mueller, Rod Rosenstein, and Cassidy Hutchinson.
Democrats assume revenge
The Daily Beasts’ Eleanor Clift wrote,
“Trump has threatened many of his adversaries, and he will soon have the power to make good on his threats. President Biden must act and use his pardon power to safeguard a lengthening list of people who are on the receiving end of Trump’s threats. They will say they’ve done nothing wrong, and they’re right. Preemptive pardons are problematic, a get-out-of jail free card when you haven’t committed a crime. But they’re needed now that President-elect Trump is gearing up his revenge tour.”
Democrats desperate to keep their gravy train rolling are screaming since Trump has vowed to purge the administrative state. This term refers to the phenomenon of unaccountable and unelected administrative agencies that often write and enforce their own rules.
