Biden's Last Minute Pardons For Fauci, Milley Enrages Conservatives: 'The Mask is Completely Off'

Conservative figures have come out to criticize outgoing President Joe Biden's decision to grant preemptive pardons to guard them against potential "revenge" by the incoming Trump administration.

Among the quickest and most vocal figures to come out is Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who rejected the preemptive notion and said they are in fact "GUILTY OF CRIMES." "Never forger what the Democrats have done. The mask if completely OFF," she added in a publication on X.

Fellow Rep. Eric Burlison, from Missouri, wondered on his end "if Fauci did nothing wrong then why the reason for the pardon?" He added a gif of a seemingly nervous Fauci to accompany the publication.

Biden quickly came out to defend his decision, saying that "public servants have been subjected to ongoing threats and intimidation for faithfully discharging their duties." Referring to the people he pardoned —Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired Gen. Mark Milley, and the members of the Jan.6 Congressional Committee— he said that they "served our nation with honor and distinction and do not deserve to be the targets of unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions.

"I believe in the rule of law, and I am optimistic that the strength of our legal institutions will ultimately prevail over politics. But these are exceptional circumstances, and I cannot in good conscience do nothing. 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 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," adds a passage of Biden's statement on the matter.

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 and Kinzinger have 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 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.

"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."