President Joe Biden has preemptively pardoned former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff retired Gen. Mark Milley, Anthony Fauci and members of the January 6 Commission — with just hours remaining in his administration.
In a statement issued Monday morning at 7 a.m. — just several hours before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration — the White House released a statement from Biden calling them “dedicated and selfless public servants.”
He claimed to believe in the rule of law, but said: “But these are exceptional circumstances, and I cannot in good conscience do anything.”
Republicans on the House Oversight Committee reminded Americans that Biden also pardoned his son Hunter Biden, something the outgoing president told the country he would not do:
People will remember Joe Biden because he used his last few weeks in office to protect his son from the law and himself.
“Mark Milley may be pardoned but we will continue to explore ways to hold him accountable,” Sen. Jim Banks (R-Indiana) posted.
Biden’s full statement read:
Our nation depends on dedicated, compassionate public servants every day. They are the lifeblood of our democracy.
However, it is alarming that public officials are subjected to constant threats and intimidation for faithfully discharging their duties.
In some cases, some have been threatened with criminal prosecution, including General Mark A. Mele, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, members and staff of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the United States Capitol. These public servants have served our nation with honor and distinction and do not deserve to be the targets of unwarranted and politically motivated prosecutions.
General Milley has served our nation for more than 40 years, serving in multiple leadership positions and deploying to some of the world’s most dangerous regions to protect and defend democracy. As Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he guided our Armed Forces through complex global security threats and strengthened our existing alliances while forging new ones.
For more than half a century, Dr. Fauci has served our country. He has saved countless lives by managing the government’s response to pressing health crises, including HIV/AIDS, as well as the Ebola and Zika viruses. During his time as chief medical adviser, he helped the country tackle a once-in-a-century pandemic. The United States is safer and healthier because of it.
On January 6, 2021, American democracy was tested when a mob of insurrectionists attacked the Capitol building in an attempt to force and violently overturn a fair and free election. In light of the significance of that day, Congress established a bipartisan Select Committee to Investigate the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol to investigate and report on the facts, circumstances, and causes of the insurrection. The Select Committee accomplished this task with integrity and commitment to discovering the truth. Instead of accepting accountability, the perpetrators of the January 6 attack seized every opportunity to undermine and intimidate those who participated on the Select Committee in an attempt to rewrite history, erase the stain of January 6 for partisan gain, and seek retaliation, including by threatening criminal prosecution.
I believe in the rule of law, and I am optimistic that the power of our legal institutions will ultimately triumph over politics. But these are exceptional circumstances, and I cannot do anything in good conscience. Baseless and politically motivated investigations destroy the lives, safety and financial security of targeted individuals and their families. Even when individuals did nothing wrong – in fact, they did the right thing – and are ultimately exonerated, simply investigating or prosecuting them can irreparably damage reputations and finances.
That is why I am exercising my authority under the Constitution to pardon General Mark Milley and Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the members of Congress and staff who served on the select committee, and the D.C. and U.S. Capitol police officers who testified. Before the Select Committee. The issuance of this pardon should not be misconstrued as an admission that any individual was involved in any wrongdoing, nor should its acceptance be misconstrued as an admission of guilt for any crime. Our nation owes these public servants a debt of gratitude for their tireless commitment to our country.
Follow Breitbart News’ Christina Wong on “X,” Social truthor on Facebook.