Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Joe Biden and Liz Cheney.Photo:MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty; Jim Watson-Pool/Getty; Oliver Contreras-Pool/Getty

Dr. Anthony Fauci speaks during the daily briefing; President Joe Biden sit at his desk ahead of addressing the nation; Liz Cheney, R-WY, delivers an opening statement during the opening hearing of the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 attack

MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty; Jim Watson-Pool/Getty; Oliver Contreras-Pool/Getty

PresidentJoe Bidenhas taken a stand in his final hours as president ahead of President-ElectDonald Trump’sInaugurationon Monday, Jan. 20.

Liz Cheney.Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty

Vice chair Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., speaks during the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol

Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty

Others who made it onto Biden’s list of presidential pardons included members who served on the House committee that investigated theJan. 6 attack on the Capitol, including former RepresentativeLiz Cheney, SenatorAdam Schiff,former RepresentativeAdam Kinzingeras well as Capitol and Washington D.C. police who testified.

Trump later shared a statement with NBC News via text, tellingMeet the Press' Kristen Welker, “It is disgraceful. Many are guilty of major crimes.”

The decision is viewed as a guard against any acts of potential revenge from the incoming Trump administration with Biden explaining his decision in a statement.

“Our nation relies on dedicated selfless public servants every day,” Biden shared in a statement explaining his preemptive pardons. “They are the lifeblood of our democracy yet alarmingly public servants have been subjected to ongoing threats and intimidation for faithfully discharging their duties.”

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The pardons come after Trump has spoken out against many of the individuals. In 2023, he accused Milley of going behind his back in the final days of the first Trump administration and calling Chinese counterparts.

Donald Trump.KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/AFP via Getty

Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids

KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/AFP via Getty

General Milley released a statement regarding the pardon, saying he was “deeply grateful” to President Biden, and adding that he, “does not wish to spend whatever remaining time the Lord grants me in this life, fighting those who unjustly might seek retribution for perceived slights.”

In December 2024, Trumptold NBC News’ Welkerthat the members of the Jan. 6 committee deserved jail time.

“For what they did, honestly, they should go to jail,” Trump said during the interview.

When asked if Cheney should go to jail, he replied, “I think everybody on the committee, anybody that voted in favor [should go to jail].”

Despite this, Trump also said he had no plans to direct his FBI director or Attorney General to send them to jail.

source: people.com