Biden preemptively pardons Fauci, Milley, Jan. 6 committee members
In the final hours of his tenure, President Joe Biden issued preemptive pardons for potential targets of the Trump administration. On Monday, Jan. 20, Biden preemptively pardoned Dr. Anthony Fauci, who led the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for nearly four decades — including during the COVID-19 pandemic during President-elect Donald Trump’s first administration.
He also pardoned now-retired Gen. Mark Milley, who served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during Trump’s first term, and has publicly warned he believes Trump is a fascist. Milley has also been heavily criticized by Republicans for the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
President Biden also issued preemptive pardons for members of Congress who served on the Jan. 6 Committee — including former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, who Trump has vowed retribution against.
President Joe Biden’s statement
Our nation relies on dedicated, selfless public servants every day. They are the lifeblood of our democracy.
Yet alarmingly, public servants have been subjected to ongoing threats and intimidation for faithfully discharging their duties.
In a statement, President Biden said, “Our nation relies on dedicated, selfless public servants every day. They are the lifeblood of our democracy. Yet alarmingly, public servants have been subjected to ongoing threats and intimidation for faithfully discharging their duties.”
Biden added, “These are exceptional circumstances, and I cannot in good conscience do nothing.”
Reaction from both sides of the aisle
The president also made clear the preemptive pardons are not meant to imply any wrongdoing; rather, they’re meant to provide protection for these individuals. Some Democrats argued against preemptive pardons, including Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., who served on the House Jan. 6 Committee.
Some Trump supporters have also spoken out against the pardons, like Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R, who claimed in a post on X that those pardoned Monday are guilty of crimes.
Trump vows to pardon January 6 rioters in ‘first hour’ of 2nd term
President-elect Donald Trump promises to pardon Jan. 6 rioters in the “first hour” of his second term. The U.S. Constitution allows the president to grant pardons for federal offenses except in cases of impeachment.
On Jan. 6, 2021, a mob stormed the U.S. Capitol in an effort to disrupt the certification of the 2020 presidential election.
1,583 rioters have been convicted of various crimes. They range from trespassing to more serious offenses like assaulting law enforcement officers, destruction of government property, and conspiracy.
On the campaign trail, Trump called January 6th prisoners “patriots.” He also called what the Justice Department did to them “unfair.”
Then, for his Time Magazine “Person of the Year” interview, the magazine asked Trump if he would pardon all the Jan. 6 defendants.
“I’m going to do case-by-case and if they were non-violent, I think they’ve been greatly punished. And the answer is I will be doing that, yeah, I’m going to look if there’s some that really were out of control,” Trump said.
While Trump did not issue a formal pledge to pardon all those involved, his comments sparked controversy.
Adam Schiff, the Democratic congressman from California, opposed the idea of Trump pardoning individuals convicted in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. He appeared on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday, Jan. 5.
“If the president goes forward with pardoning vast numbers of people involved in that violence,” Schiff said. “He will begin his new administration the way he ended his last administration and that is by celebrating violence against our democracy.”
The Justice Department also released new numbers on the Jan. 6 cases Monday. They say there are approximately 300 cases in which a defendant has been charged but not yet found guilty or entered a plea.
Additionally, nearly 180 of those cases involved serious charges. They include assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement agents or officers or obstructing those officers during a civil disorder. Both of those charges are felony offenses.
Trump’s swearing-in and second term in office will begin on Jan. 20.
California Democrats race to secure more funding for high-speed rail
The clock is winding down for President Biden’s time in office, pushing Democratic congressional leaders to make a last-ditch effort to secure more funding for California’s high-speed rail. The California lawmakers sent Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg a letter, asking for $536 million to help finish phase one of the project.
It’s an investment the lawmakers said will connect California’s largest populations, from San Francisco to Los Angeles, with a journey taking under three hours.
The coalition includes Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff. They are joined by Reps. Pete Aguilar, Jim Costa and Zoe Lofgren. They said the new rail system will boost jobs, safety and transportation accessibility.
“By preparing for future final design and construction of complex tunnels in this corridor, the Project will advance both state and federal goals to improve safety, expand economic strength and global competitiveness, address equity issues, and implement sustainability practices to confront climate change,” the lawmakers wrote in the letter.
Since its approval by California voters in 2008, 119 miles of rail are currently under construction, thanks in part to $6.8 billion from the federal government and another $22 billion from the state itself.
Donald Trump’s incoming administration is critical of the project, saying California has wasted billions of dollars. It’s a similar tune to what the president-elect said during his first term. He said delays and additional costs hampered the progress of the project.
The project is over budget by billions of dollars, and the majority of the line hasn’t been fully designed or constructed.
Now the co-chairs of the government’s “Efficiency Department,” Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, are ready to end the project. They both agree with Trump on the project’s careless use of federal funds.
Some California Republicans agree, and are ready to pull the plug. One Republican congressman plans to introduce a bill to defund part of the project and cut off access to federal funding.
Democratic senator opposes Biden’s preemptive pardons. Here’s why.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said he “strongly opposed” President Joe Biden’s consideration of preemptive pardons for President-elect Donald Trump’s political rivals. Blumenthal described it as a “terrible idea.”
“It would, in effect, be an implicit acknowledgment of some culpability or guilt,” Blumenthal told reporters. “And it would apply only to the top officials, probably leaving the underlings exposed and vulnerable.”
Multiple outlets reported Biden’s senior aides are debating blanket pardons for those possibly targeted by the incoming Trump administration. Former Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Dr. Anthony Fauci are among possible Trump targets.
Prosecution speculation
Blumenthal said if there is a prosecution, it would be better to create a legal defense fund. This way, the accused can have a strong, bipartisan team of attorneys.
As a former prosecutor, he expressed doubts about getting a conviction on purely political charges.
“I think that pushing back and achieving acquittals, in effect giving the president a black eye when he brings these retribution prosecutions, would be a way to uphold justice,” Blumenthal said.
Trump threatens Jan. 6 investigative committee
President-elect Trump added to concerns about retribution, saying members of the Jan. 6 investigative committee should go to jail.
“For what they did, honestly, they should go to jail,” Trump said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
Trump said he wouldn’t direct his FBI director and attorney general to send them to jail.
“I think that they’ll have to look at that. I’m going to focus on drill, baby, drill,” Trump said.
Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., a former member of the committee, said he did his job and the findings of the investigation should be preserved.
“They’re incredibly concerning,” Aguilar responded to Trump’s comments. “But I also think that within that same interview, he said that he could not tell the American public that their prices were not going to be impacted by the tariffs. So this is somebody who doesn’t keep his word.”
Aguilar said he hasn’t been a part of any conversations about pardons, calling it speculation.
‘Risk and uncertainty’ as Syrian rebels oust Assad after decades in power
Syrian rebels oust dictator Bashar al-Assad, who has fled the country after nearly 25 years in power. And the suspected killer of a health care CEO in New York City is still at-large after eluding a massive manhunt for almost a week. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Dec. 9, 2024.
‘Risk and uncertainty’ as Syrian rebels oust Assad after decades in power
It’s the dawn of a new era in Syria. After more than a decade of civil war in the country, President Bashar al-Assad was ousted after rebel groups overtook the capital in a coup on Sunday, Dec. 8.
Now Syria and its people are left with the question of what comes next as countries around the world, including the United States, react to the changing landscape.
Syrians could be seen celebrating in the streets as word spread that Assad had fled the country. State media reported the president and his family landed in Russia Sunday evening and Assad has been granted political asylum in Moscow.
The toppled leader, who had been in power since 2000 and whose family had ruled for five decades, was forced to vacate after rebel forces quickly captured city after city leading to them taking control of Damascus.
Since the civil war broke out in the wake of the pro-democracy Arab Spring demonstrations of 2011, Assad’s forces have been accused of brutal severe human rights violations, including using chemical weapons against their people. They’ve been held responsible for the deaths of more than 5,000 people and the displacement of millions of others.
The rebels who led to Assad’s ouster were headed by Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, the leader of the group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. Jolani called the coup “a victory for the whole Islamic nation.”
Jolani’s group used to be linked to Al Qaeda. Though it has cut those ties, the U.S. still designates it a terrorist group.
President Joe Biden spoke from the White House Sunday, calling the end of Assad’s regime a “fundamental act of justice.” Biden added the U.S. will support Syria’s neighbors Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq should any threat arise from this period of transition.
Biden referred to this as a time of “risk and uncertainty.”
“We will remain vigilante. Make no mistake, some of the rebel groups that took down Assad have their own grim record of terrorism and human rights abuses,” Biden said. “We’ve taken note of statements by the leaders of these rebel groups in recent days and they’re saying the right things now. But as they take on greater responsibility, we will assess not just their words but their actions.”
Biden said Assad’s downfall came in part due to allies Iran, Russia and Hezbollah being weaker today than when Biden began his term.
President-elect Donald Trump issued a statement on his Truth Social platform Sunday, saying Iran and Russia are in weakened states right now and calling for the end of the war in Ukraine. However, in a post on Saturday, Dec. 7, Trump said the U.S. should not get involved with Syria, saying, “This is not our fight. Let it play out.”
Iran’s president said it is up to the Syrian people to decide the future of their country.
Amid the time of transition in Syria, the U.S. showed it will continue its efforts against ISIS in the region. U.S. Central Command said it launched a series of airstrikes Sunday targeting ISIS camps and leaders in central Syria, confirming 75 “targets” had been hit. U.S. officials said it will not allow ISIS to take advantage of the current situation in Syria.
Trump promises to pardon Jan. 6 rioters on first day in office
In his first network TV interview since winning the election, President-elect Trump touched on some of his biggest campaign promises and his plans to start following through with them immediately when he takes office in January.
In an interview with NBC News’ Kristen Welker for Sunday’s “Meet the Press,” Trump said, “A lot of it will have to do with economics. A lot’s gonna do with energy. A lot’s having to do with the border. We’re gonna immediately strengthen up the border and do a real job.”
Trump also doubled down on his promise to pardon Americans jailed for their role in the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021, saying they had no other choice than to plead guilty. Department of Justice records show more than 1,500 people have been arrested or charged in connection with that attack and nearly 900 have pleaded guilty.
While Trump said he will not tell his nominees for FBI director and attorney general to go after his political rivals, he did share his opinion on what should happen to lawmakers who were on the House’s select committee to investigate January 6.
“Everybody on that committee, for what they did, honestly, they should go to jail,” he said.
After that interview, former Congresswoman Liz Cheney (R-WY), who was on the committee, issued a statement saying, “Donald Trump’s suggestion that members of congress who later investigated his illegal and unconstitutional actions should be jailed is a continuation of his assault on the rule of law and the foundations of our republic.”
Trump did reiterate multiple times during Sunday’s interview he has no plans to go after political rivals, but as we’ve reported here at Straight Arrow News, President Biden is considering preemptive pardons for Cheney and others who were part of the House Jan. 6 investigation, as well as Dr. Anthony Fauci and Special Counsel Jack Smith.
Police release new images of suspect in NYC deadly shooting
The manhunt for the killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson enters a new week.
Over the weekend, the NYPD released new images of the apparent suspect. Police identify the man in the pictures as “a person of interest” wanted for questioning for the fatal shooting outside a Hilton hotel Wednesday, Dec. 4.
One image shows the masked man in the back of a taxi. Another shows him walking on the sidewalk outside a vehicle. Police are hoping these images, along with others released last week, will help lead to the gunman.
Authorities reportedly traveled to Atlanta on Saturday, Dec. 7, and have been searching a lake near Central Park. On Friday night, Dec. 6, reports said investigators found a backpack believed to belong to the shooter. Inside they found two items: a Tommy Hilfiger jacket and Monopoly money.
Jay-Z accused of raping 13-year-old girl alongside Diddy
Music mogul Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, has been accused of raping a 13-year-old girl alongside Sean “Diddy” Combs. In a civil suit filed Sunday, the anonymous accuser claimed the assault happened in 2000 at an MTV Video Music Awards after-party.
The federal lawsuit was originally filed in October only listing Combs as a defendant, but it was refiled Sunday to include Carter.
Jay-Z, who is married to Beyonce, denied the accusation and said in a statement directed at the attorney who filed the suit, “These allegations are so heinous in nature that I implore you to file a criminal complaint, not a civil one!!”
Combs’ lawyer also responded, calling the suit a “shameless” publicity stunt.
In September, federal prosecutors in New York criminally charged Combs with racketeering, sex trafficking and other offenses. He is in jail awaiting trial, which is scheduled to start May 5.
Kennedy Center honors Coppola, Grateful Dead, The Apollo
President Biden was among those in attendance — a tradition President Trump did not continue during his first term in office, saying he did not want to be a political distraction as some attendees had threatened to boycott his appearance. As Trump gets ready to start his second term in office, there are questions about whether federal funding for the arts might be on the chopping block.
Reports: Juan Soto, Mets agree on largest contract in pro sports history
Former New York Yankees star outfielder Juan Soto is staying in the Big Apple, but moving leagues in reportedly the largest deal in professional sports history.
But should Soto decide not to opt out, his pay will reportedly go up an extra $4 million a year for the remainder of the deal — meaning in the end, this could be an over $800 million deal.
The agreement also reportedly includes a $75 million signing bonus. Soto’s deal surpasses the record set just last year by Shohei Ohtani’s 10-year, $700 million contract.
Note: The headline has been corrected to Assad. A previous version had the incorrect name.
Dr. Fauci, Schiff, Cheney: Biden weighs preemptive pardons ahead of Trump term
The Biden administration is considering issuing preemptive pardons for several public officials, according to sources close to the discussions who spoke with Politico. These pardons could be granted to individuals who senior aides believe may be targeted by President-elect Donald Trump.
The potential pardons could include high-profile figures who have been outspoken against Trump, such as Senator-elect Adam Schiff of California, former Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney and Dr. Anthony Fauci, a key figure in U.S. health policy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The White House is weighing the legal and political risks of offering preemptive pardons to individuals who are not currently facing criminal charges but could be protected from future prosecution if charges were later brought.
Some of those reportedly being considered for pardons have already expressed hesitation. Schiff has said he would “urge the president not to do that,” noting that such a move “would seem defensive and unnecessary.”
In June 2024, Trump posted on Truth Social that the January 6th Select Committee should be indicted, accusing members of deleting and destroying evidence. However, Trump has also stated that he will not target political opponents, asserting his revenge will be his success.
The discussions about potential pardons come after Biden pardoned his son, Hunter, a move that has received mixed reactions. Some Democrats have called on Biden to issue additional pardons.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries issued a statement urging Biden to use his final weeks in office to extend “the high level of compassion he has consistently demonstrated throughout his life.” Jeffries called for pardons on a case-by-case basis for working-class Americans in the federal prison system who have been negatively impacted by aggressive prosecutions for nonviolent offenses.
DNC delays virtual roll call vote to nominate Biden until August
As the Republican National Convention unfolds, Democrats are gearing up for their own event, slated to take place beginning Aug 19. This year’s Democratic National Convention faces unique circumstances as President Joe Biden could secure the nomination before the event begins, though the nomination will now come later than previously thought.
Biden could clinch the nomination in early August through a “virtual roll call” process. This mechanism allows state delegates to cast their votes remotely, starting as early as Aug. 1. The move aims to streamline the nomination process amid logistical challenges exacerbated by state-specific ballot issues. The DNC pushed the start of the vote to August after initially stating voting would begin on July 22.
According to a letter obtained by CBS News, voting will now take place between Aug. 1 and 5. This is to accomodate an Ohio rule that requires candidates to be certified by Aug. 7.
Despite efforts to unify the party behind Biden, dissenting voices within Democratic ranks have surfaced in recent days. Concerns over Biden’s candidacy have been privately expressed by several prominent figures, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif. According to reports, Pelosi has been actively engaging party members to discuss her apprehensions about Biden’s electoral prospects, while Schiff said it is time for Biden to pass the torch.
These reservations come at a critical juncture for the Democrats, as the leadership of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) aims to solidify Biden’s position well ahead of the convention. Sources close to the DNC indicated plans to confirm Biden’s nomination through the virtual roll call process, originally designed to circumvent ballot access issues in certain states.
Despite the procedural advancements, the DNC’s decision to proceed with the virtual roll call does not change much from the current situation. According to party rules, even after confirmation, Biden could be replaced if he voluntarily steps aside and releases his delegates.
A new poll found that 65% of Democrats want President Joe Biden to end his campaign and allow his party to select a new nominee. The AP-NORC poll, conducted July 11-15, gives insight into the discontent many Americans have with their presidential choices this November.
Former President Donald Trump doesn’t fare much better, according to the poll. About 57% of adults said Trump should withdraw and allow Republicans to select a new nominee.
There is a notable difference between the two candidates’ support within their party: 73% of Republicans believe Trump should stay in the race, but only 35% of Democrats want Biden to stick around.
Biden is particularly unpopular with younger Democrats. The poll shows that 56% of respondents aged 18-44 said they’re “very” or “somewhat dissatisfied” with the 46th president. Only 43% of those 45 and older felt the same.
Despite the opposition to Biden’s campaign for a second term, he’s made it clear he has no plans to go anywhere. In an interview with BET News, the president was asked what it would take for to him reevaluate staying in the race.
“If I had some medical condition that emerged,” Biden said. “If the doctors came in and said, ‘You got this problem, that problem.’ I’ve demonstrated that I know how to get things done for the country in spite of the fact that I’m told I couldn’t get it done. But there’s more to do and I’m reluctant to walk away from that.”
There are 19 congressional Democrats who have called for Biden to drop out. Most recently and most prominently is Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., who is on track to be California’s next senator.
“A second Trump presidency will undermine the very foundation of our democracy, and I have serious concerns about whether the president can defeat Donald Trump in November,” Schiff said in a statement.
Age and perceived mental capacity are the biggest reasons Biden is struggling. According to the AP poll, only 14% of Americans are extremely confident he has the mental capacity to serve effectively as president. About 70% of respondents said they are “not very confident” or “not confident” at all.
Trump calls for Jan. 6 investigative committee members to be indicted
Donald Trump is calling for the criminal prosecution of members of the congressional Jan. 6 investigative committee, all of whom are his political opponents. The former president expressed his opinion on Truth Social, his social media platform, on Thursday, June 6.
“INDICT THE UNSELECT J6 COMMITTEE FOR ILLEGALLY DELETING AND DESTROYING ALL OF THEIR ‘FINDINGS!’” the former president wrote.
Committee members included former Republican Reps. Liz Cheney, Wyo., and Adam Kinzinger, Ill., and Democratic Reps. Adam Schiff, Calif., Jamie Raskin, Md., Bennie Thompson, Miss., and others.
Trump made the post after a judge sentenced his former chief strategist Steve Bannon to four months in prison for defying a subpoena from the committee. Bannon remained defiant, however, after a judge handed him the sentence Thursday and ordered Bannon to surrender by July 1.
”There is not a prison built or jail built that will ever shut me up,” Bannon said as he walked out of the courthouse. “All victory to MAGA. We’re going to win this. We’re going to win at the Supreme Court and more importantly, we’re going to win on November 5th in an amazing landslide.”
“It is a Total and Complete American Tragedy that the Crooked Joe Biden Department of Injustice is so desperate to jail Steve Bannon, and every other Republican, for that matter, for not SUBMITTING to the Unselect Committee of Political Thugs,” Trump added in his Truth Social post.
Rep. Barry Loudermilk, R-Ga., spearheaded a Republican-led investigation into what happened on Jan. 6, 2021, and wrote in his report the original select committee did not preserve some of the evidence.
Committee member Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., also responded to Trump’s calls for their indictment and denied deleting evidence.
“The ex-president threatening to arrest people shows he does not understand, or does not care, about our system of justice,” Lofgren said on CNN.
The committee concluded its investigation with an 845-page report and a criminal referral against Trump to the Justice Department. Members suggested Trump be indicted on charges very similar to those brought forward by special counsel Jack Smith.
After backlash, Rep. Porter regrets calling California primary ‘rigged’
Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., expressed regret for calling the recent California Senate primary “rigged” after losing to Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Republican Steve Garvey, a former professional baseball player, according to The Hill. Porter’s initial comments after her primary loss reportedly sparked backlash and criticism within her own party.
In early March, Porter wrote on X that she faced an “onslaught of billionaires spending millions to rig this election.” Her remarks drew comparisons to former President Donald Trump’s rhetoric about election integrity.
Trump has repeatedly called the 2020 presidential election “rigged” and alleged fraud. The GOP front-runner has also positioned himself as an “anti-establishment” candidate.
Porter said in a post on X that her supporters had the “establishment running scared.”
Thank you to everyone who supported our campaign and voted to shake up the status quo in Washington. Because of you, we had the establishment running scared — withstanding 3 to 1 in TV spending and an onslaught of billionaires spending millions to rig this election. (1/)
In an interview on the “Pod Save America” podcast, Porter clarified that she did not intend to impugn state election officials but rather highlight the influence of big money in politics. She admitted that using the term “rigged” was a mistake and emphasized the role of money in influencing elections.
While some experts acknowledge the impact of big money in politics, they caution against equating it with election rigging.
The California Senate primary employs a top-two system. Schiff’s campaign utilized TV ads to contrast him with Garvey, aiming to secure an easier path to the general election by matching him up with a Republican.