Well, well, well. If you thought Washington couldn’t get any more bizarre, here’s a new twist: President Joe Biden’s aides are reportedly debating the idea of issuing preemptive pardons to protect a host of Democratic officials from hypothetical prosecutions under a returning President Donald Trump. That’s right—pardons not for actual crimes but for the fear of what Trump might do. What a time to be alive.
Let’s break this down. Biden’s team is apparently so spooked by Trump’s vengeance rhetoric that they’re considering handing out blanket pardons like party favors. Who’s on the guest list? Folks like Adam Schiff, Liz Cheney (yes, she’s technically a Republican, but you’d hardly know it), and even Dr. Anthony Fauci. Schiff’s role on the January 6 Committee and Fauci’s controversial pandemic policies have made them regular targets of conservative criticism—and, apparently, potential subjects of investigations in a Trump administration.
The idea is rooted in precedent—or so some Democrats would like us to believe. They’re pointing to Gerald Ford’s pardon of Richard Nixon as a shining example of national healing. Others are citing Bush and Clinton-era pardons, but let’s not kid ourselves—those instances pale in comparison to what’s being cooked up here. Pardoning someone before any charges have been filed? That’s less about justice and more about self-preservation.
The sheer irony is hard to miss. The same party that spent years crowing about accountability and “no one is above the law” now seems to be tripping over itself to protect its own from legal scrutiny. Of course, not everyone on the left is thrilled about the optics. Adam Schiff himself has publicly rejected the idea, calling it “defensive and unnecessary.” But you have to wonder—are some of these public denials masking private sighs of relief?
Let’s not forget the Hunter Biden factor in all this. The president’s controversial pardon of his son has already ruffled feathers within his own party, with critics accusing Biden of nepotism and setting a dangerous precedent. Now, extending the same clemency to political allies risks deepening that divide. And for what? To preemptively counter a hypothetical “revenge tour” by Trump? If you’re keeping score at home, this is what they call governance by paranoia.
It’s also worth noting the financial angle. Some Biden appointees are reportedly eyeing high-paying private sector jobs to gird themselves against potential six-figure legal bills. So much for the noble ideals of public service, huh? The specter of pricey legal defenses has even driven some Democrats to lobby for the preemptive pardons more aggressively. Can you blame them? Not everyone has a “big guy” to foot the bill.
Then there’s the elephant—or should we say donkey—in the room: what message does this send to voters? Democrats are already fighting an uphill battle to portray themselves as the party of accountability and the rule of law. Handing out get-out-of-jail-free cards to high-ranking officials doesn’t exactly scream “trust us.” It plays right into the narrative that Washington insiders play by a different set of rules.
Senator Mike Lee responded:
When should we expect Diddy’s pardon? https://t.co/1NloGNQFj1
— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) December 5, 2024
This debate underscores a growing anxiety among Democrats about Trump’s potential return to power. But in their zeal to shield themselves from what may or may not come, they risk exposing their own hypocrisy. After all, the rule of law is either sacred or it isn’t. You can’t have it both ways.
So, as Biden’s team continues their internal deliberations, one can’t help but wonder: is this really about protecting democracy, or just another chapter in Washington’s long history of political self-interest? Stay tuned—this circus is just getting started.
