Biden Issues Last-Minute Pardon To Liz Cheney, Members of Jan. 6 Committee Trump Said Should Be 'In Jail'

Outgoing President Joe Biden has issued a slew of last-minute pardons for a series of figures who are at odds with incoming President Donald Trump, saying he intends to guard them against potential "revenge." The people include former Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, Dr. Anthony Fauci and retired Gen. Mark Milley.

"The issuance of these pardons should not be mistaken as an acknowledgment that any individual engaged in any wrongdoing, nor should acceptance be misconstrued as an admission of guilt for any offense," Biden said in a statement, emphasizing on the preemptive nature of the decision.

"Even when individuals have done nothing wrong — and in fact have done the right thing — and will ultimately be exonerated, the mere fact of being investigated or prosecuted can irreparably damage reputations and finances," the outgoing president added.

Fauci has been heavily criticized by Trump and many of his allies over his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, especially measures limiting movement and contact, such as quarantines and the use of facemask, aimed at preventing the spreading of the virus. Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has called Trump a fascist and heavily criticized him for his attempts at overturning the result of the 2020 presidential election.

Cheney has been targeted over her involvement in the Jan.6 committee that investigated Trump's efforts to overturn the election. "Honestly, they should go to jail," he said during an interview with NBC in December. Biden gave Cheney the Presidential Citizens Medal—the second-highest civilian honor in the United States— for leading the investigation.

Kinzinger, on his end, has blasted Trump for his statements, saying he is not intimidated by him. "If Donald wants to pursue this vindictive fantasy, I say bring it on. I'm not intimidated by a man whose actions on January 6th showed a cowardly disregard for democracy and the rule of law. A man too frightened to serve in the military, and a who requires a strong man like Putin to feel secure," he wrote.

He went on to defend the committee's hearings, which he said proved the Jan. 6 riot was a planned "assault on the foundations of our democracy, encouraged and abetted by the former president himself."

Kinzinger also called committee members "defenders of democracy" while designating Trump as "a man who betrayed it."

"I'm confident that the name 'Trump' will be a stain on our history, and my son will be proud of what I did," Kinzinger continued. "So, bring it on. We aren't afraid of the truth, but I suspect you are."

While Trump threatened to jail the politicians serving on the committee, he also stated he will work to "free" the rioters who were imprisoned on day one of his term.