Senior aides to President Joe Biden have reportedly been considering the prospect of issuing preemptive pardons to certain officials in the wake of the president’s controversial pardon of his son, Hunter Biden.
The aides are alarmed by President-elect Donald Trump’s choice of Kash Patel for FBI director given his past statements that he would seek out Trump’s detractors, Politico reported, citing senior Democrats. They worry officials could be subject to inquiries or indictments for their past statements or actions.
Those considered for pardons include Sen.-elect Adam Schiff (D-CA) and former GOP Rep. Liz Cheney, both members of the Jan. 6 committee. Former head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Anthony Fauci, who has been extensively criticized by many on the Right, has been considered for a pardon as well, according to the outlet.
The aides discussing the pardons reportedly include White House counsel Ed Siskel and chief of staff Jeff Zients, among others.
Congressional Democrats have taken a quiet role in spurring the recent conversations, though they haven’t been lobbying for pardons themselves.
Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA) recently issued a direct plea to Biden to issue the blanket pardons. “This is no hypothetical threat,” Boyle said. “The time for cautious restraint is over. We must act with urgency to push back against these threats and prevent Trump from abusing his power.”