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President Biden said he was still considering preemptive pardons for President-elect Donald Trump’s political enemies, including former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Dr. Anthony Fauci, during his final interview with a print publication before leaving the White House
The interview, conducted over the weekend in the Oval Office by USA Today Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page, was published Wednesday morning. Biden told Page during the discussion that he was not yet sure whether to offer preemptive pardons to potential Trump targets, including Cheney, Fauci and others.
Biden added during the interview that when he met with Trump after his victory in the November election, he urged the president-elect to “not try to settle scores.”
“He didn’t say, ‘No, I’m going to…’ You know. He didn’t reinforce it. He basically listened,” Biden told Page.
With wildfire smoke clouding the Washington Monument in the distance, President Biden crosses the South Lawn as he leaves the White House for a day trip to New York City on June 29, 2023 in Washington, D.C. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Reports of possible preemptive pardons for people who could face Trump’s political wrath began to surface after Biden pardoned his son, Hunter, following his conviction for gun and tax crimes. The pardon came after Biden said yes do not consider this move.
Biden continued to issue pardons and commutations in the final days of his presidency. Last month, he set a record for the largest act of clemency in one day switched sentences of about 1,500 people in mid-December.
Some Democrats have warned that the move to issue additional broad-based pardons for Trump’s political targets, in the wake of Biden’s exit, could set a dangerous precedent. Meanwhile, others have publicly defended the pardons out of fear of what Trump might do.
President Biden and his son Hunter Biden leave a bookstore while shopping in Nantucket, Massachusetts on November 29, 2024. (MANDEL I/AFP via Getty Images)
One of the public officials Biden has been considering for one of the preemptive pardons, Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., told CNN on Monday that he did not want all presidents to go ahead with handing out broad blanket pardons. However, Schiff did not say whether he would decline such a pardon if offered.
Other lawmakers, including Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., voiced their support for Biden to issue preemptive pardons.
From left to right, Sen. Adam Schiff, Dr. Anthony Fauci and former Rep. Liz Cheney are being considered by Biden aides for possible preemptive pardons, according to Politico. (Getty Images)
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“I think without a doubt Trump is going to try to act in a dictatorial way, in a fascist way, in a vindictive way (like his) first year … toward people who he thinks have wronged him.” , Markey told Boston Public Radio after Trump’s statement. November electoral victory. “If it’s clear on January 19th that (revenge) is their intent, then I would recommend to President Biden that he provide these preemptive pardons to people, because that’s really what our country is going to need in the coming year.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment, but did not hear back before publication.
