Pardons Granted
pardoned , Gen. Mark Milley, and members of the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, aiming to protect them from potential reprisals by the incoming Trump administration.
Biden's pardons extend to his family members and are justified as a defense against "unrelenting attacks and threats" motivated by partisan politics, including a previous pardon for his son, .
Rationale and Implications
Biden emphasized the pardons were not admissions of guilt but recognition of public service, aiming to prevent the damage caused by baseless investigations or prosecutions.
The move, breaking political norms, is seen as a preemptive strike against potential threats to democracy posed by Trump's return to power, reflecting Biden's concerns over the impact of such threats on institutions and individuals.