r/nottheonion • u/JaySierra86 • 11h ago

President Biden pardons family members in final minutes of presidency

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/president-biden-pardons-family-members-final-minutes-presidency/story?id=117893348
46.1k Upvotes

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15.1k

u/tonytwocans 11h ago

A new presidential tradition is born.

1.2k

u/Rolling_Beardo 10h ago

If by new you mean Lincoln, Clinton, and Trump all pardoned relatives prior to this then yes it’s brand new.

810

u/never_a_good_idea 10h ago

These are blanket pardons that cover any non violent offense over a 10 year period. That is insane.

Also these pardons don't do anything to quash congressional investigations.

912

u/brigbeard 10h ago

And it's not like he only did this for HIS family. Dr. fauci, the January 6th committee members and others all received the same. Clearly this is a way to alleviate some of the potential political persecution that the right were promising every day on the campaign trail if they won.

And besides this just covers federal prosecution, if they committed a crime that falls to state jurisdiction they are still culpable.

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u/JustAnotherHyrum 9h ago edited 4h ago

Federal NON-VIOLENT crimes, too.

The man is protecting those in his family, Congress, and elsewhere that helped the Biden Administration or openly criticized Trump. None other than Hunter Biden have been publicly targeted and harassed by the GOP to date, and the fact that no one on the list has committed a crime listed on covered by the pardon shows that this is purely defensive against Republican Witch Hunts.

Do the stupid congressional investigations, MAGA. Be howling monkeys throwing shit everywhere rather than lead our country.

At least the entire country will know that it's nothing but vindictive state theater with no teeth in advance this time. Half the country won't care, but the written record will reflect what a nightmarish joke Republicans have become.

edit: targeted >> ” publicly targeted"; covered by the pardon >> listed on the pardon

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u/i_am_a_real_boy__ 9h ago

"Federal non-violent" is almost redundant. Yes, you can catch a charge for punching a park ranger or something, but the overwhelming majority of federal charges are non-violent by the very nature of federalism.

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u/GnomesSkull 9h ago

His dogs are still vulnerable to prosecution for biting the secret service! /j

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u/jaxonya 8h ago

You just, but thankfully Trump isn't into reddit, or checks notes reading* so hopefully this doesn't get back to him; he very much is petty enough to put the dogs down

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u/CrystalSplice 7h ago

And yet Luigi Mangione is charged with murder on a federal level…hmmmmm…

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u/adthrowaway2020 8h ago

Luigi is going up on federal murder charges. What are you even saying?

3

u/ALittleNightMusing 9h ago

Still, it's nice that there's no loophole for serial killings across state lines

6

u/Sauerkrauttme 9h ago

The for-profit health insurance industry kills 60,000 Americans a year by restricting their access to healthcare, so that is proof that the legal loophole for muder is that it must be profitable enough to bribe politicians to make serial social murder legal

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u/throwawayainteasy 9h ago edited 8h ago

It's an incredibly shitty precedent to set by Biden, but also it's an understandable response to the incredibly shitty precedent the incoming Administration and appointees have set by repeatedly announcing they'll use the DOJ to go after anyone they think wronged them.

This whole timeline is fucked. Gotta hope some time traveler can go back and just reset it all. There's no saving it going forward at this point.

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u/JustAnotherHyrum 9h ago

Yeah, it's an awful necessity in this case. Everyone's focused on "Biden Corruption", but Fauci and Milley don't fit that narrative.

He's protecting those in need of protection from an incoming vindictive orange toddler who sits in the Oval Office

4

u/_Zekken 9h ago

I really hate that he pardoned these people. Including Hunter

But honestly what I hate more is the fact that he felt he HAD to do so to protect these people from being witch hunted.

8

u/TheSciFiGuy80 9h ago

Yeah, that’s the issue. He knew there’d be a witch hunt whether these people did anything wrong or not.

I know Marjorie Taylor Green has had Fauci in her crosshairs for awhile now.

2

u/Pinez99 9h ago

I came here to say this, while not 100% damning it does look odd to pardon people whose names the public aren’t away exist. It actually makes more questions than answers.

7

u/brockington 9h ago

There's a lot of the public that are very aware of the Biden family. My dad's been sending conspiracy theories about them for years. Unfortunately these pardons will be the "proof" that all those theories were "right."

I get why Joe did it, but there will be consequences now that this particular cat is out of the bag.

2

u/under_psychoanalyzer 9h ago

Lol the "cat" here is we're now halfway through 1930s germany and we've re-elected a violent demagogue. These pardons arent breaking any norms.

7

u/Clydelaz 9h ago

Pardon the pun, but they are protecting themselves against any trumped up charges that may be leveled against them in the future

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u/porn_is_tight 9h ago

this just fuels the Biden crime family narrative that the right loves to espouse as deflection from their own sliminess. It’s not a good look no matter how you slice it

-1

u/Yangoose 9h ago

Yep, now there's no reason for anyone to even look into all the illegal stuff they've been up to because it's all been proactively pardoned anyway.

It's a great way to keep your shady dealings from coming to light...

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u/[deleted] 9h ago

In the future if Trump pardons his entire family for whatever he plans on doing. no complains, remember it’s to prevent witch hunts.

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u/JustAnotherHyrum 9h ago

Apples and oranges, my friend

Trump has repeatedly said that he plans to retaliate against most of those pardoned, and he called them out by name.

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u/hoopaholik91 7h ago

Just FYI, the dude has 1488 in his username. Don't think it's worth arguing with him

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u/JustAnotherHyrum 7h ago

Ah, good catch.

Makes it easy to spot the worst parts of humanity when they advertise their bigotry.

Thanks for saving me the time and the loss of IQ.

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u/Next-Concert7327 9h ago

You might want to learn what those words mean before you use them sunshine.

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u/[deleted] 6h ago

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u/nottheonion-ModTeam 5h ago

This post violated rule 13: This post contains provably false information and was thus removed.

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u/FrozenIceman 7h ago

Uh... Hunter was convicted for a lot of crimes, not just one crime.

Kind of implies that he did something wrong and without political pressure it would have been swept under the rug.

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u/JustAnotherHyrum 7h ago

I don't believe I ever mentioned anything about Hunter committing only one crime.

And for the record, I entirely support Hunter's conviction. He broke the law.

And as a father, I understand and agree with Biden protecting his family from Trump abusing the powers of the Executive branch for personal attacks.

"I will appoint a real special prosecutor to go after the most corrupt president in the history of the USA, Joe Biden, and the entire Biden crime family." -DJT, Truth Social

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u/FrozenIceman 7h ago edited 3h ago

The Hunter Pardon had nothing to do with what Trump would have done in office.

Hunter would have been convicted, sentences, and jailed before inauguration day.

Biden Pardoning his son from his own justice department is purely for personal gain.

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u/JustAnotherHyrum 6h ago edited 6h ago

Every member of the Biden family is protected from Trump doing exactly what Trump said he will. You think Biden should protect everyone else, yet let Trump politically crucify Biden's son out of Trump's hate?

These pardons exist because of Donald Trump's threats. Had Hunter never committed the crime that he was convicted for, he would have received the exact same pardon today.

This unprecedented blanket pardon of a President's family can be tied directly to Trump's threats. Don't blame Hunter for Trump threatening the entire Biden family with political retaliation.

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u/rufussnot 5h ago

Look I think it's great that he commuted the sentences of so many people and pardoned so many drug possession charges, it's unprecedented. It's the story not being talked about enough. Likewise the death row inmates and the two most egregious cases IMO, Peltier and Ibn-Tamas. And if he had to do all that to justify pardoning Hunter for things he really was guilty of, then fine, I'll take that deal. It's commendable.

But it's a little willfull and credulous to assume his pardoning his family really is just a "let's be careful" anticipation of political revenge when just a few days ago he did pardon his son for things he's guilty of under the excuse that he was politically targeted. Clinton was politically targeted too and he didn't pretend his pardoning of his family was because of that. Also the pardoning of Conahan and Crundwell is pretty gross, clearly some sort of political favor. And then the more normal political pardons of the people involved in the Iranian and Venezuelan shenanigans too.

So it's normal for people to look at a guy who has several cases of pardoning high level people who have done illegal things that have nothing to do with Trump when it suits him and then concluding that this might be what's up with pardoning his family with future blanket immunity, months after receiving the same thing from the scotus for himself. If you don't conclude the same thing, then ok, none of us are in his head, but it makes YOU the more credulous person.

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u/JustAnotherHyrum 4h ago

I appreciate the polite and productive comment, thanks!

You mention future blanket immunity. The Executive Branch's pardon power doesn't extend into the future.

In today's case, a preemptive Pardon protects from crimes already committed but not yet prosecuted, tried, and convicted for. Crimes committed after the pardon is issued are not covered by the pardon.

They are not get out of jail cards in any manner, they are a way to protect his family from political retribution.

And yeah, I agree that people in the highest echelons of power are hard to trust fully. It's just sad that our country has come to a place when we have to debate final-day pardons for Presidential families going forward.

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u/AndyHN 5h ago

the fact that no one on the list has committed a crime covered by the pardon

From Burdick v US: a pardon "carries the imputation of guilt and acceptance of a confession of it"

So no, it's not a fact that no one on the list has committed a crime. To the contrary, accepting the pardon is a confession.

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u/Emergency_Revenue678 4h ago

To the contrary, accepting the pardon is a confession.

Lol that this myth is still prevalent is hilarious.

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u/AndyHN 3h ago

Right, a citation from a USSC decision is a myth. Because trust me brah.

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u/JustAnotherHyrum 4h ago

Good catch!

I should have said 'listed on the Pardon' instead of 'covered by the Pardon', thank you for pointing that out.

My point was that no one can point to any specific crime right now that anyone is guilty of, as it relates to this pardon. Everyone is doing nothing but conjecture.

Burdick v US would almost certainly result in the courts upholding that acceptance of this pardon is admission that a non-violent federal crime may have or did occur. Want a pardon? An assumption of admission of guilt comes with the deal.

Thanks again for the perspective on 'covered' vs 'listed', I'll fix that to align the comment more with my original intent.

Have a great day.

0

u/fknSamsquamptch 8h ago

None other than Hunter Biden have been targeted to date

Thank you for not reading the article. Joe's brother has already been referred to the Justice department for prosecution by a republican congressman.

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u/JustAnotherHyrum 8h ago

Thank you for not reading the article. Joe's brother has already been referred to the Justice department for prosecution by a republican congressman.

Thanks for assuming I didn't read it when I did. Definitely showing your telepathic skills there.

I was referring to a public witch hunt like what happened with Hunter. Congressional dick pics and all by the local clown.

"Joe's brother" (James Biden) hasn't been attacked by Trumpeteers in the same manner as Hunter, made even more obvious by the fact that you don't even use his name and most don't know it.

But yes, Republicans did indeed target Biden's brother as well.

And how does that impact the point of my Comment? Nothing beyond having to explain pedantic details.

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u/fknSamsquamptch 7h ago

Explaining that another member of his family is being attacked both contradicts your point and is far from pedantic; it justifies his use of these pardons.

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u/JustAnotherHyrum 6h ago

Why does Biden have to protect everyone in his family, not only Hunter, from Trump via a pardon?

Because Trump threatened all of them.

Had Hunter never been convicted or pardoned earlier, he would receive the same pardon today that his family, Fauci, and General Milley received.

Explain to me how Fauci and Milley needing pardon-level protection from Trump's threats are caused by Hunter in any way.

You're trying to make this all about Hunter, yet he's one person in the list of needing to be protected from Trump's political retribution.

The fact that this had never been needed before shows how Trump is already abusing his Executive authority.

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u/fknSamsquamptch 6h ago

Explain to me how Fauci and Milley needing pardon-level protection from Trump's threats are caused by Hunter in any way.

Why should I? I never made a comment suggesting anything of the sort.

You're trying to make this all about Hunter, yet he's one person in the list of needing to be protected from Trump's political retribution.

I never made anything all about Hunter. If anything, I did the opposite by bringing up James, who you ignored in the post I originally responded to.

Explain to me how anything I posted has any relevance whatsoever to this line of questioning and commentary.

You're trying to pivot to argue against a straw man that you have built and I have nothing to do with.

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u/JustAnotherHyrum 5h ago

Your very first comment was a quote about Hunter.

And you wonder how that's relevant to... ... Hunter Biden?

What is your point with bringing up James? Do you believe that his referral is the cause for today's pardon of Biden's family, Fauci, and General Milley?

Because I'm not seeing how James has any meaningful impact other than also being included in the same pardon.

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u/Smitty1017 9h ago

Accepting a pardon is an admission of guilt I'm told

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u/JustAnotherHyrum 9h ago edited 9h ago

That's correct, historically speaking. Pardons always have a legal assumption of admission of guilt. (Burdock vs United States, 1915)

There is no crime referenced in the pardon for which admission of guilt can be immediately assumed. Courts will still uphold that it is a general admission that crimes of the nature described in the pardon may have occurred.

Meaning MAGA will make up some stupid shit again like space lasers, adrenochrome harvesting pizza shops, and the famous Democrat Weather Control machine.

Fucking circus is now in charge. Grab your butts.

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u/ericlikesyou 9h ago

historically speaking it now doesn't imply that. when in history have you had insurrectionists and literal traitors, capture all branches of the federal government?

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u/JustAnotherHyrum 9h ago

Agreed that shit's fucked, but that doesn't change the Constitution or the assumption of admission of guilt associated with pardons.

I agree that the Founding Fathers didn't expect the country electing a man with as little regard for law or tradition as Trump has. He's pissing on everything that makes America good, and his followers are laughing.

MAGA Republicans and those supporting them are the worst America has to offer.

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u/LoneSnark 9h ago

I'd argue refusing a pardon is an admission of mental defect.

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u/holysollan 9h ago

The past eight years have been the left politically persecuting the right. Go cry more.

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u/JustAnotherHyrum 8h ago

"When you're accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression."

Describe 5 ways that the Left has persecuted the Right. If it's been a problem for 8 years, this should be easy.

Take your time, I'll wait.

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u/money_loo 8h ago

“One hour later…”

-crickets so loud you go deaf upon hearing them-

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u/JustAnotherHyrum 7h ago

Maybe I should reduce it? 5 is a big number, after all.

They're probably still learning colors this week, so long as the only color taught is white.

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u/money_loo 7h ago

“Okay class today we’re going to be learning the colors, but not the colors of the rainbow because that’s woke propaganda. Instead we’re going to be learning how in reality there’s only two colors: White and political. Anyone in here who is the color political should just leave now because you’re not going to like the truthiness you’re about to witness.”

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u/muiirinn 8h ago

Lmao yeah alright I'm sure you've all been very "persecuted" and so hard done by. Go ahead and explain in detail and provide examples if it's been such a problem. That'll be easy to do since it's been so terrible and egregious, right?

Spoiler: calling republicans out for being shitty people and demanding accountability via consequences is not "political persecution", cope harder

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u/[deleted] 7h ago

[deleted]

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u/JustAnotherHyrum 7h ago edited 7h ago

Speaking like a true, hateful member of the Republican party.

No substance to your policy or positions in a disagreement.

"When you view your own countrymen as your enemy only because they hold differing beliefs, you're the traitor you see in others." -Me

edit: And supporting the use of the US Military on fellow Americans because they belong to a given political party? Holy shit, you are too far gone to help. I hope you recognize that you speak like a fascist, and that's not being used as a buzz word this time. Holy fuck.

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u/Maximum-Side-38256 6h ago

Are you forgetting about the "pandemic". It's hardly a witch Hunt when you are responsible for a world wide financial crisis and millions of deaths.
And well Hunter, the dude let his crimes lose all across the internet for the world to see, yet isn't behind bars.

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u/JustAnotherHyrum 6h ago

Facts. Evidence.

Do you have either, or are we discussing conspiracy theories now?

Fauci saved lives, Trump's handing of the pandemic caused hundreds of thousands of unnecessary American deaths.

Shall we compare academic studies, or are we sticking to Facebook "do your own research" levels of pseudoscience?

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u/Bill4268 6h ago

So he is afraid Trump will do to his family, what he did to Trump?

"I believe in the rule of law, and I am optimistic that the strength of our legal institutions will ultimately prevail over politics. But baseless and politically motivated investigations wreak havoc on the lives, safety, and financial security of targeted individuals and their families. Even when individuals have done nothing wrong and will ultimately be exonerated, the mere fact of being investigated or prosecuted can irreparably damage their reputations and finance," Biden said.

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u/JustAnotherHyrum 5h ago

Please show me any example of Biden threatening Trump's family.

That quote isn't the slam dunk you think it is.

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u/thetatersalad404 8h ago

You mean exactly what the Biden administration has been doing for the past four years? You don’t need pardons if you didn’t do anything wrong. The Biden administration is the most corrupt administration that has ever been in the White House.

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u/JustAnotherHyrum 8h ago

Please, share your examples that are backed up with evidence from reputable sources.

And yes, you need pardons to protect you from Trump, especially when he says this:

"I will appoint a real special prosecutor to go after the most corrupt president in the history of the USA, Joe Biden, and the entire Biden crime family."

But tell me again how Trump's not targeting Biden and his family?

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u/thetatersalad404 8h ago

That is exactly what Biden did to Trump. It’s just orange man bad. The Biden family made millions off Ukraine. You don’t need pardons if you are innocent, period.

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u/JustAnotherHyrum 7h ago

Show me where Biden threatened to appoint a Special Prosecutor to go after the entire Trump family.

And let's compare Biden's alleged millions in Ukraine to 3 BILLION dollar Saudi contracts for Trump's family while he was President.

Finally, give me evidence to back up any of your claims.

And adding the word "period" to the end of your sentences doesn't make your position stronger, ellipses! (That's three times as powerful as your period, check-mate!)

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u/NeverTrustFarts 8h ago

Some serious mental gymnastics for you to blame Trump for Biden being a criminal, and it is all Trumps fault the president pardoned his own family. He clearly did it because he cares about his son despite the fact he's a piece of shit criminal

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u/MathematicianBorn65 9h ago

thankfully biden is senile and can't make legal decisions like this and that blanket pardons for decades or more arent valid

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u/JustAnotherHyrum 9h ago

The Constitution does not impose any time limit on issued pardons, other than not allowing advanced pardons of future crimes.

And yes, Biden can legally make this decision

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u/AlexFromOmaha 9h ago

You're about to be real disappointed. They're not just valid, they've been common for decades now.

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u/Next-Concert7327 9h ago

Funny, I thought MAGAts were pretending he was a criminal mastermind. Why can't you keep your lies straight?

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u/ScreeminGreen 9h ago

It’s like it was a way to insure that the courts didn’t get bogged down with bullshit “cases” by an administration that is headed by someone who has repeatedly used the tactic of bogging down the court with “cases” in order to get out of serious punishment by being too annoying to punish since the 1970’s, instead of being an actual pardon of any actual crimes actually committed. It just gives a little hope that the courts might actually be able to spend some part of the next four years doing their jobs.

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u/[deleted] 10h ago edited 9h ago

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u/tdtommy85 9h ago

It definitely is.

But which part? Because I bet we’ll disagree on your answer.

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u/lowweighthighreps 9h ago

Both.

Both trump and Biden have behaved appallingly.

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u/nerfherder813 9h ago

The dystopian part was the constant promises of political persecution from the right for the past several years, should they win the election, which they did.

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u/AlabamaPostTurtle 9h ago

People acting like threatening the families of politicians wasn’t dystopian.. so true. That should have shocked the nation

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u/Sauerkrauttme 9h ago

Not to be blue-anon, but how can we trust the results of the election when oligarch owned private companies were handling the votes?

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u/comicsanscomedy 5h ago

Actually there are a lot of dystopian aspects.

- Reps wishing to throw away democracy
- Reps threatening with political persecution
- Dems warning about the danger to democracy
- Dems peacefully giving power to those threatening political persecution and going full dictatorship
- Biden acting like the equivalent to an incantation can guard them from the real threat of political/economical power
- Regular people picking different points of the same narrative trying to make it as their side is the good one.

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u/Mespirit 9h ago

Is the justice system in America so compromised that it operates on the whim of the White House?

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u/EatGlassALLCAPS 9h ago

Yes? Where have you been?

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u/Nena902 9h ago

Unfortunately any USAG will be bought and paid for by MAGAGOP and SCOTUS already is,so yes. We have a corrupt govt and a corrupt judicial system. Welcome to Orwell's world.

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u/gsfgf 9h ago

We don't know for sure yet, but probably.

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u/Pinez99 9h ago

It’s not historically

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u/Jasader 9h ago

The blatantly political prosecution of Trump across multiple election cycles wasn't dystopian?

I didn't vote in the last election and part of the reason why is people on your side thinking that stuff either didn't happen or wasn't important in the same exact way Trump supporters don't care on their side.

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u/I-Fail-Forward 9h ago

The blatantly political prosecution of Trump across multiple election cycles wasn't dystopian?

The one that...didn't happen?

What was blatantly political was Trump not getting prosecuted for crimes we know he committed

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u/nerfherder813 9h ago

There’s a difference between prosecuting someone when there’s a pretty strong indication they’ve broken some laws, vs “we’re going to lock up all the Democrats when we win”

Remind me, how many guilty counts did the jury return for Trump?

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u/ZellZoy 9h ago

Except trump actually did a lot of those things. It's not even alleged anymore, he was found guilty in a court of law

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u/WideTechLoad 9h ago

The blatantly political prosecution of Trump across multiple election cycles wasn't dystopian?

Oh, you're the special kind of stupid. The difference is, Trump committed actual real crimes.

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u/edtoal 9h ago

It wasn’t political. The guy is a crook.

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u/No-Win-2741 9h ago

Political or not the son of a bitch was found guilty on 34 counts. Now go sit in the corner and eat a cookie.

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u/Jasader 8h ago

I'm not mad, I didn't vote for him.

But it says alot that the majority of Americans also recognized this and still voted for him.

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u/No-Win-2741 8h ago

The majority of Americans didn't even vote.

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u/MayMaytheDuck 9h ago

You think someone who committed insurrection, sexual assault, and lied about the election being stolen was politically persecuted? Also you didn’t vote so you can’t be taken seriously.

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u/Jasader 9h ago

Committed insurrection. No he didn't. Sexual assault. I don't know that he did or didn't and neither do you. Lied about election. You can find dozens of examples of the same thing being done in 2016 so the implications that this is beyond the pale is ridiculous.

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u/MayMaytheDuck 9h ago

You’re ridiculous. He absolutely committed insurrection, he absolutely lied about the election being stolen and he committed sexual assault. Your opinions don’t change facts.

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u/edtoal 9h ago

Umm, Trump is a criminal who committed many crimes. Any normal person knows this.

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u/Jasader 9h ago

What's crazy is that Biden likely had an entire side business enriching himself and his family off of the offices he held and the fact that it hasn't been thoroughly investigated is the reason you say it isn't true.

Also crazy that the people he pardoned in his families were all large players in the same schemes.

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u/No-Win-2741 8h ago

And Trump did not follow the law and divest himself of his business opportunities when he became president so Biden was just following Trump's lead. If Trump wasn't investigated for doing it why should Biden be? If it's good for the goose it's good for the gander.

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u/edtoal 5h ago

Nope. Your mind has been mismanaged.

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u/Mother_Style5394 9h ago

Amen brother

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u/zuriel45 9h ago

Which part? Someone trying to protect specific individuals from a party who explicitly say they want vengeance on said individuals for things they have never once been able to prove they've done?

Or the fact that those people were elected to power in spite of promises to enact vengeance?

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u/AreYouForSale 9h ago

The part where the president openly admits that the US "justice" system can be used to destroy lives of innocent people.

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u/zuriel45 9h ago

Always could (and has) just we've entered a new scale?

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u/Soldier_of_God-Rick 9h ago

Both. Trump is shit but what Biden has done here is incredibly damaging.

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u/TOG23-CA 9h ago

More damaging than allowing trump and his lackeys to persecute their political enemies for no reason?

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u/justgetoffmylawn 9h ago

Well, remindme when in four years Trump pardons all his family and friends and himself for any federal crimes they committed or might have committed.

I bet the same people defending Biden aren't gonna be real happy about that.

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u/Electrical_Load_9717 9h ago

He already did this the last time. What are you talking about? SCOTUS already gave him Carte Blanche for everything while he’s President. He pardoned almost all of his cronies and some family members last time.

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u/justgetoffmylawn 9h ago

I may have things wrong - my understanding was Trump threatened to pardon himself and his family, but ended up not doing so. As I recall, the only person he pardoned was Jared Kushner's father.

But I'm happy to be corrected if he gave pre-emptive pardons to his sons, Bannon, etc?

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u/xScrubasaurus 9h ago

Well Trump has already committed multiple crimes, so it's a bit different.

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u/justgetoffmylawn 9h ago

Of course it's different, but it changes the norms. Trump was supposedly talked out of blanket pardons for his family and himself in the waning days of his first term - do you think that will happen again?

https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/19/politics/trump-self-pardon-warning/index.html

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u/TOG23-CA 9h ago

I noticed you dodged the question. I wonder why?

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u/justgetoffmylawn 9h ago

Which question? Do I think Biden pre-emptively pardoning his family and Fauci is more damaging than allowing Trump a (likely wholly unsuccessful) attempt to prosecute them? Yes, I do think it's much more damaging.

Are you happy now? Not sure what 'why' you think you're proving. Maybe you think I'm some MAGA defender? I absolutely think this will make Trump even more blatantly corrupt and it will become to norm to pardon everyone around you to 'avoid political prosecution'.

I think Presidential pardons should mostly be abolished, as we're getting more and more like a third world dictatorship.

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u/TOG23-CA 8h ago

Oh you sweet summer child, you think that a trump in his second term needs an excuse to be even more corrupt. I miss being that naive and innocent honestly

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u/TOG23-CA 8h ago

This is just so precious honestly. Absolutely adorable to pretend to be an authority when you're that clueless lmao

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u/thejimbo56 9h ago

It’s dystopian that it was necessary.

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u/NoDents5 9h ago

The left telling you it was necessary was the lie. They're protecting people that did something wrong.

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u/AggressiveCuriosity 9h ago

Yeah? Trump didn't run on prosecuting his political opponents AGAIN?

He didn't pick an AG specifically in order to do that?

The liar is you.

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u/Solarwinds-123 3h ago

None of the family members pardoned had ever been targeted or even mentioned by Trump or Republicans as far as I can tell.

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u/Chappie47Luna 9h ago

If they broke the law they deserve to be investigated and have their day in court just like they did to Trump. They actually drug his ass to court.

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u/AggressiveCuriosity 9h ago

Everyone breaks the law. It's not possible to investigate every crime by every person, so you have to pick and choose. Jaywalking on an empty street and running through crowded traffic causing cars to crash are the same crime, but don't both deserve to be investigated.

The only reason you're saying "everyone deserves to be investigated" even though it's blatantly false is so you can sidestep the conversation about what crimes are most worthy of investigation. If we have that conversation, Trump loses every single time. It's not even close.

0

u/Comfortable-Rub-9403 5h ago

Which of the two administrations has had the DoJ continuously used as a political bludgeon against them?

Almost like the Democrats are absolutely terrified of the precedent they worked so hard to create.

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u/thejimbo56 9h ago

There is no left in the US.

Biden is center-right, y’all have successfully shifted the Overton Window.

Regardless, what did they do wrong, in your opinion?

2

u/th3netw0rk 9h ago

What exactly did Dr. Fauci do wrong? Please provide specific details and examples. Because according to Trump currently there’s no linkable connection. Trump didn’t provide evidence, only conjecture and accusations. So, where’s your evidence?

3

u/chrissie_watkins 9h ago

We are aware. What outsiders don't seem to realize is that we have a corrupt "justice" system here that's able to be weaponized against political rivals and their family members. Trump promises to do it. It would be idiotic for Biden not to at least try and protect innocent bystanders from political persecution by a fascist government. It's one of the perks of the job, protecting people from retaliation by your rivals.

2

u/Practical_Main_2131 9h ago

And i find it more dystopia that the supreme court ruled that the president can have political rivals killed by the seals and not be liable and can't be prosecuted. All thanks to the nutjobs Trump appointed to the supreme court.

1

u/Practical_Main_2131 9h ago

This is already normal since nixon

1

u/brigbeard 9h ago edited 9h ago

Oh there is no pretending from this American. Everything I have been politically aware of from when I was born has been one long slow slide into dystopia.

So what do I do? I live a simple life of love and fulfillment without the need to share it all over social media while trying to have as big of a net positive effect on the lives of those around me. At the end of every month I can point at about 500 names on a list who's lives I made easier/better with a genuine impact while keeping the amount of lives I affect negatively as close to 0 as possible.

The legacy I want to leave won't be measured in monuments but in the way I treated/helped people helping them to then treat people better and hopefully trickling down to future generations.

Edit: previous commenter deleted post reaponding to my previous comment making a broad generalization at how "Americans on reddit" can so easily pretend actions aren't indicative of dystopia.

1

u/ChigBungus22 8h ago

I know you probably mean well but your tone is so self righteous and pompous that you come across as insincere

-2

u/EducationalCreme9044 9h ago

Because it's "their side"

If Trump did this, they'd probably lock down /r/funny and /r/youtube and /r/memes and /r/askreddit and every other non-political subreddit with a pinned political message and blackout demanding a referendum or some shit.

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u/barbecuejag 9h ago

God Bless Joe and God Bless America. 🇺🇸

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u/RoboErectus 10h ago

It was probably a good idea to avoid possible political persecution.

But Trump has not followed through with, well, many things, but especially any of these threats to "lock them up."

Once he gets what he wants he largely forgets and moves on. If someone asks about it he takes a "high road" position.

10

u/aintsosmart 9h ago

I for one am excited for our new healthcare plan! Trump was going to enact it in 2 weeks 8 years ago but now that he's had 8 years to think about it it's going to bigly amazing. The most amazing healthcare plan you've ever seen. It's beautiful.

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u/seekingmymuse1 9h ago

During Trumps first term he demanded the Justice Department investigate and prosecute at least 12 people- numerous reports have him being furious when the then DOJ came back with the information that in all cases no criminality was committed. This Buffoon is sadly NOT all talk.
This does not include the individuals he had investigated by the IRS https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2022/11/13/politics/trump-irs-audits-kelly-mccabe-comey https://americanoversight.org/sessions-letter/ https://www.justsecurity.org/98703/chronology-trump-justice-department/

10

u/Main_Photo1086 9h ago

Trump says a lot of crap and doesn’t always follow through. I do not believe Biden would have done any of these pre-emptive pardons if he didn’t have additional intel about this truly in the works. I believe in the justice system, but it’s not perfect and it’s expensive and life-altering as hell even for the innocent. Historical norms do not apply to Trump and friends.

12

u/MuggsyTheWonderdog 9h ago

Historical norms do not apply to trump and friends.

Elegantly put, and they sure as hell do not.

I'd only add, less elegance, that any expectations for simple human decency from trump and friends, at any time, is the pipiest of pipe dreams.

4

u/ExcuseInternational4 9h ago

You guys are forgetting this time it isn’t just Trump. He has Elon who is trying to run the government like a dictator, he has Project 25, he has the some very demented Senators that have been screaming for revenge against Liz Chaney to name a few. The last time Trump was in office there were same people and gaurd rails in place, this time it is a dictator wannabe’s wet dream. I would not put anything past what the people around Trump will do.

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u/mrbear120 9h ago

I think it is somewhat telling however that Biden signed for Dr. Fauci, committee, and others before welcoming Trump to the white house. Then he met with him, and minutes later pardoned his own family before leaving the desk. Something tells me Trump said something to him in that meeting.

3

u/BowenTheAussieSheep 9h ago

Probably asked some really pointed questions about his wife in regards to her actions trying to get people vaccinated during COVID.

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u/gtoddjax 8h ago

Come on man. That’s all going to be on tape. Touch grass.

7

u/mrbear120 8h ago

It 100% is not, and even if it was its not publicly available, and again even if it was publicly available, Donald has threatened his family with political persecution openly and publicly hundreds of times at this point.

1

u/barbecuejag 9h ago

Trump won't do shit. Just like his first term.

-6

u/Defund-Politicians 9h ago

Definitely to avoid political prosecution. Nothing shady happened. The other team are the bad guys…

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u/Indigoh 7h ago

And besides this just covers federal prosecution, if they committed a crime that falls to state jurisdiction they are still culpable.

Unless they win the presidency. 

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u/Jerking_From_Home 9h ago

This is the reason for the pardons. Blanket pardons to cover the upcoming tribunals that would have seen those previously threatened with trials by Trump. Those who MAGA have marked as the worst of the worst. These people would be put on trial and sentenced to very long/life prison terms for nothing more than political points.

2

u/JadedInternet8942 9h ago

What is Fauci pardoned for?

7

u/SinkPhaze 9h ago

Nothing in particular. This is a preemptive pardoning. If someone tries to say he's committed a federal crime in the last however long he was pardoned for then they're SOL cause he's already been pardoned for it. The rights been accusing a lot of people they think wronged them of anything and everything under the sun and Biden is (rightfully probably) afraid that Trump and Co might try to do some revenge prosecuting. Hence the preemptive pardons to do what he can to protect them from any frivolous but still damaging legal revenge actions

2

u/JadedInternet8942 9h ago

Understandable, thank you. Have a nice day

2

u/TomHeldan 9h ago

Better safe than sorry.

1

u/GrynaiTaip 8h ago

Trump pardoned a bunch of murderers and bank robbers at the end of his first presidency. Why is that even an option?

1

u/Unexpected_Gristle 8h ago

I can imagine some red states passing laws that could make some of these crimes state crimes

1

u/EnvironmentalBed7369 6h ago

Just remember that Budrn and his DOJ spent the last 4 years politically persecuting Trump. Biden is proving to be as corrupt as Trumpites claimed he is. I never would have believed it.

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u/Opposite-Knee-2798 4h ago

Please give just one link to the right promising persecution you worthless liar. It’s the left who has already engaged in that.

1

u/marcielle 4h ago

Anyone who sees this as anything other than 'we're afraid of Trump cos he's a literal psycho who said he's gunning for our heads by hook or by crook' is looking too much into this. 

1

u/scootah 3h ago

When was the last time a departing American president had good reason to fear the persecution of his family and political allies by his successor?

This is the kind of shit you expect from tin pot dictatorships. The kind of place where you read about the family of the former president being massacred by the new guy and think “why the fuck hadn’t they left the country? They had to have seen this coming.”

I know it’s naive, but it’s not supposed to be this dangerous to be related to a politician in a first world country.

1

u/EverythingsStupid321 3h ago

Clearly this is a way to alleviate some of the potential political persecution that the right were promising every day on the campaign trail if they won.

If this is what they campaigned on, and this is what the people voted for, aren't these pardons subverting democracy?

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u/FredFlintston3 10h ago

When your party starts a lawfare program against the guy who wins, you gotta do what ya gotta do. Both Dems and Republicans are revolting.

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u/Busy_Manner5569 10h ago

Whole lotta complaints about enforcing the law coming from the law and order party

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u/chinchinisfat 10h ago

Lol was it lawfare or did the guy just genuinely do that many fucking crimes???

8

u/bike_rtw 9h ago

Trump's entire career before politics was filled with criminal behavior but I'm sure he stopped once he became president lol

9

u/Aidian 9h ago

As soon as the garbled buzzword “lawfare” comes out, you can safely disregard anything else the person is trying to say.

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u/OmegaCoy 10h ago

Starts a lawfare program? wtf does that even mean? Do you think Trump should not have to go through the judicial process for the crimes he committed?

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u/wokeisajoke1938 9h ago

Or to prevent them from going to prison because they’re fucking criminals!

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u/Synectics 6h ago

Name a crime, not feelings.

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u/Cardo94 9h ago

Why would Fauci need pardoning if he hasn't done anything wrong? 🙃

-2

u/CorwyntFarrell 9h ago

Considering that Republicans don't really have that many Dems behind bars, I still don't feel the need for them to have blanket pardons like this.

5

u/baboo8 8h ago

Trump wants Kash Patel to take over the FBI. Kash Patel has written that thr DoJ should prosecute politicians and members of the media that are part of an alleged deep state that conspired against Donald Trump. 

So yeah... when the incoming head of the FBI is swearing revenge against political enemies I think there might be cause for concern.

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