White House Discussing Preemptive Pardons Of Trump's Enemies: Reports

But some Democrats, already irked by the Hunter Biden pardon, aren't sure it's a good idea.

People in President Joe Biden’s orbit are weighing the possibility of him issuing preemptive pardons to people who may be targeted by President-elect Donald Trump, according to multiple media reports Thursday.

Politico, CNN and USA Today all reported that senior White House aides are having serious discussions about pursuing pardons for some of Trump’s political enemies out of concern he will pursue criminal indictments against them. CNN reports that Biden administration officials and prominent defense attorneys are also involved in those discussions.

According to Politico, Biden has not yet been brought into the talks, which have been spearheaded by White House counsel Ed Siskel.

The list of potential pardon recipients may include former Republican Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney, who Trump has said should “go to jail;” California’s Democratic Sen.-elect Adam Schiff, who Trump famously referred to as “the enemy from within;” Anthony Fauci, the former head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who’s publicly sparred with Trump over the COVID-19 pandemic; and special counsel Jack Smith, who led the two federal indictments against Trump.

Debates over the possibility of preemptive presidential pardons ― which are rare but not unprecedented ― have been ongoing for weeks, CNN reported. Some worry issuing them could inspire more retaliatory action from Trump and his allies, but others are feeling a sense of urgency — especially since the president-elect named Kash Patel, who’s vowed to pursue Trump’s critics, as his choice to lead the FBI.