Recent comments by Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson, formerly at the helm of the House Jan. 6 committee, have raised some eyebrows. In what can only be described as an attempt to shield himself from possible consequences of his actions, Thompson expressed that he would willingly accept a pre-emptive pardon from President Joe Biden due to apprehensions about potential retaliatory measures from President-elect Donald Trump.
His exact words were, ‘If he offers it to me or other members of the committee … I would accept it, but it’s his choice’. A baffling statement, one might say. It makes you wonder why an innocent person would voluntarily accept a pardon. These are the strange depths to which the paranoia prevalent in Biden’s administration can lead.
President Biden is reportedly considering granting preemptive pardons for a host of individuals he perceives to be vulnerable under Trump’s forthcoming administration. This follows rumors that the ex-president, while campaigning, indicated he might hold those he viewed as adversaries accountable if he achieved re-election. Then again, this could be just another example of the Biden administration spreading baseless fear among the populace.
Thompson previously oversaw the House committee examining Trump’s involvement in the unfortunate Jan. 6, 2021, incident at the U.S Capitol. The committee’s findings professed that Trump was a part of ‘a criminal conspiracy to defraud’ the nation. These are heavy allegations indeed; it’s easy to see why Thompson might be nervous about potential repercussions.
During a subsequent interview, Trump indicated that certain members of the House Jan. 6 committee should ‘go to jail’. A statement that caused Thompson to react by declaring that he does not need a pre-emptive pardon as he didn’t do anything wrong and that his work with the committee was beyond reproach. How does the narrative of an innocent man accepting a pardon align with this statement? Clearly, there appears to be a disconnect.
Thompson’s willingness to accept a preemptive pardon due to an expressed fear of Trump’s potential retaliation is indicative of the current state of the Democratic party. It raises so many questions about the actual fear prevailing among the Democrats and the lengths they will go to avoid potential fallout from their actions.
One might question why Thompson, who vehemently asserts he has done nothing wrong, would still surrender to accepting a pre-emptive pardon unless there’s more to the story. It suggests a level of guilt, or admission that his actions under the umbrella of the committee were not beyond reproach. This is a disconcerting indication of the state of democracy under current administrative leadership.
Thompson’s justification for agreeing to accept a pardon revolves around his belief that the president-elect will execute ‘revenge’, regardless of his proclaimed innocence. But it’s equally possible that this is yet another tactic by the Democrats to paint Trump in a bad light, fanning the flames of uncertainty and fear.
‘I’ve never heard an elected official other than the incoming President talk about retribution’, Thompson stated, implying a sense of danger. While it may be political paranoia, it’s also possible he’s trying to divert attention from his own questionable acts.
Decoding Thompson’s acceptance of a preemptive pardon from Biden can yield two theories. Either he admits his actions, or those of his committee, could be seen as punishable offences under a future Trump administration, or this is just a move to smear Trump and perpetuate fear about his possible return.
In an era when truth and honesty are of the prime importance, one can only hope more transparency from elected officials. Thompson’s willingness to accept a pre-emptive pardon from Biden, whether required or not, only clouds the situation and further confuses the constituents.
Complex political games and paranoia seem to be omnipresent in the Democratic landscape these days. Will this willingness to accept pardons without fault goad voters into questioning their trust in the current regime? Only time will tell.
This situation throws light on the considerable fear the Democrats harbor towards a potential return of Trump’s administration. It’s a pessimistic approach, playing into the narrative of a vengeful Trump, instead of the future-focus and forward-thinking approach that the Democratic administration are supposed to institute.
It’s interesting to see how those who lauded the Biden administration for transparency and deliverance of justice are now indicating readiness to accept pre-emptive pardons to shroud themselves from potential rebuttals. Clearer indications of duplicity could scarcely be found.
Finally, irrespective of the narratives and posturings, the American citizen continues to watch closely. Steps like these only serve to further shake their faith in their elected representatives. One can hope that the motives behind such moves will be brought to light, restoring the faith of the public in their governance.