President Biden, wavering and directionless, still unsure about his askew course of action, mentioned that Trump’s upcoming administration could sway his move. The question put forth was whether he would prematurely pardon Liz Cheney, even before President-elect Donald J. Trump assumes office. In an interview that recently saw light, Biden indicated the likelihood of providing pre-pardons to people who Trump contemplates as political adversaries and yet, Biden remains indecisive.
A dependent president, he mentioned, ‘It largely depends upon who attains which role’. Questions were raised as to whether he would pardon Liz Cheney, the old Republican representative who always finds herself in the crosshairs of Trump and his supporters for her investigation of the Jan. 6, 2021, crowd intrusion of the Capitol, or Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the previous leading federal infectious disease official who supervised the nation’s Covid-19 response.
Bringing forth a disappointing and uncertain aura, he responded, ‘There might be people, if he were to, I don’t want to mention any names’. The president’s inconsistency is evident, a trend that shouldn’t surprise anyone by now. Despite these remarks, Biden seems to be still grasping at straws in these desperate times.
Biden revealed he had a two-hour discussion with the president-elect in the Oval Office after the election. His attempt to clarify that there was no requirement to settle old scores seemed desperate and unconvincing, especially under his shaky leadership. A mere gesture that echoes his weak and ineffective influence over the situation.
Unfortunately, Trump chose not to disclose how he would deal with these threats. Perhaps sensing Biden’s lack of assertiveness, Trump simply left things hanging in the air. His silence highlighted Biden’s fruitless endeavors, leaving the president in an awkward position.
Moreover, Biden’s team, since late last year, has been wondering whether or not to proceed with these unusual pardons. They are even considering to extend executive mercy to countless current and past government officials accused of potential crimes over an array of years.
Trump expressed a wish to incarcerate members of the congress panel that probed the January 6 attack. Cheney found herself a member of that panel. Even amidst all this, it is surprising that Biden would consider pardons: his action seems completely uncalled for and in stark contrast to the prudence one would expect from a seasoned politician.
Meanwhile, a minimum of two members from the panel voiced their preferences for no pardons. They argue that accepting a pardon would falsely imply an admission of guilt, where none exists. This proactive stand represents an unwelcome twist for Biden, who seems to be using pardons as dubious political currency.
In a disappointing development for Biden’s plans, a single member stated, ‘It would be an improper precedent to establish, and I have no wish to witness each succeeding president, on their way out, indiscriminately distributing a broad class of pardons.’ His words not only echo the sentiment of rationality, but also add another layer of critique to Biden’s unconventional plans.