President Joe Biden granted last-minute pardons to people like Liz Cheney and Dr. Anthony Fauci in an effort to shield them from possible retaliation by President-elect Donald Trump. The goal of these pardons is to prevent the next administration from conducting any politically motivated inquiries.
Legal experts counter that these pardons do not protect recipients from being questioned at congressional hearings when they testify under oath. Notably, pardoned persons like Cheney and Fauci could be subpoenaed by Republican congressmen like Reps. Jim Jordan and James Comer to testify about their behavior, which could have additional legal repercussions.
Some, like former Rep. Adam Kinzinger, caution that receiving a pardon could damage public perception by indicating guilt, even though Biden acknowledged the rule of law while making the pardons.
