In one of his last actions as President of the United States, Joe Biden granted preventive pardons to several key figures of his administration, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired General Mark Milley, and members of the select committee that investigated the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots. He also extended these pardons to the families of those involved for past offenses.
This move, which aims to exonerate these figures from any judicial consequences, immediately sparked strong reactions, especially from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. The Florida governor labeled Biden’s decision as one of the “greatest abuses of power” committed by the outgoing president.
Criticism of Fauci and Milley pardons
DeSantis, known for his political opposition to Biden’s administration, particularly criticized the pardon of Dr. Fauci, who was one of the main promoters of public health policies during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also voiced disapproval of the pardon granted to Mark Milley, who played a key role in managing the Afghanistan withdrawal. According to DeSantis, this measure demonstrated how “the swamp” of Washington protects its own actors, accusing Biden of using his power to shield those who, in his view, were responsible for a series of “abuses” during the pandemic.
Additionally, DeSantis highlighted his disagreement with the vaccination policies pushed by the Biden administration, particularly the mRNA vaccine mandates, which were successfully blocked in Florida. He argued that such decisions undermined individual freedom and deepened political divisions in the country.
Biden defends his decision
Joe Biden, for his part, defended his decision, arguing that these public figures had “served the nation with honor and distinction.” He stated that they did not deserve to be subjected to unjust political persecution, noting that even the mere fact of being investigated or prosecuted had severely affected their reputations and finances.
Meanwhile, Florida House of Representatives candidate Jimmy Patronis joined the criticism of the January 6 committee, pledging to work with Congressional leadership to investigate the actions of figures like Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, who actively participated in the investigation of the Capitol assault.
The controversy surrounding this pardon measure continues to fuel debate across the country, as DeSantis and other Republican leaders persist in denouncing what they perceive as a clear protection of key figures from the Biden administration.
