On Monday, outgoing US President Joe Biden made the surprising decision to offer preemptive pardons to several individuals who have voiced their disapproval of Donald Trump. He explained that this action was taken to protect them from "unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions" by the new government.

Those pardoned include retired General Mark Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Dr. Anthony Fauci, the face of America's response to COVID-19 and Biden's former chief medical adviser; and members and staff of the House committee that looked into the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. The move by Biden coincides with President-elect Donald Trump, who is scheduled to take office later today, vowing to take action against anyone who has attempted to hold him responsible for his involvement in his supporters' attempt to rig the 2020 presidential election.

"Our nation owes these public servants a debt of gratitude for their tireless commitment to our country." "These public servants have served our nation with honour and distinction and do not deserve to be the targets of unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions," said Biden in a statement. Milley, who has called Trump "fascist to the core" and "dangerous," has faced criticism from Republicans, especially for his remarks about Trump's actions during the January 6 insurrection. Trump referred to Milley as a "traitor." Dr. Fauci, who was a key figure in leading the US government's response to the Covid-19 pandemic, has faced a lot of criticism, especially from the right, for his policies like mask mandates. Former President Trump repeatedly blamed Fauci for pandemic-related decisions, accusing him of going against his administration.

Republicans Adam Kinzinger and Liz Cheney, who served as members of the January 6 committee, were also pardoned. Trump had earlier called for the imprisonment of these politicians for their involvement in the investigation into him and the Capitol riot, which resulted in the injuries of 140 police officers and the temporary suspension of the Electoral College vote count. None of these individuals have been accused of any crimes, but it is believed that they were among the people Trump intended to target with his promised "retribution" against his political opponents if he were to serve a second term. Biden's final days in office were filled with a flurry of mercy acts, setting a presidential record for the most individual pardons and commutations granted.

Last Friday, the 81-year-old Democrat announced that sentences for nearly 2,500 people convicted of non-violent drug offenses would be reduced. This decision was made to address what he considered overly harsh prison terms. Before that, he pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, for an 11-year span of criminal offenses, including convictions for federal tax and firearm offenses. The historic pardon mirrored the fear of the departing President that Trump supporters would press more charges against his son.