# Should/ will Biden issue pardons to Trump's enemies? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [November 19, 2024, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-will-biden-issue-pardons-to-trumps-enemies/1010424 "2024-11-19T00:19:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2025, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-will-biden-issue-pardons-to-trumps-enemies/1010424/121 "2025-01-20T12:22:24Z")
Good. They were going to be retaliated against by Trump. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2025, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-will-biden-issue-pardons-to-trumps-enemies/1010424/122 "2025-01-20T12:30:49Z")
> [@psychobunny](#): > > Biden went and pardoned all members of the Jan 6 committee, Milley, Fauci and possibly some others with an explicit note that pardoning them is no indication that they are guilty of anything. I can’t be mad about it It would’ve been a heck of a thing for him to make two quick statements. _‘I hereby pardon Milley and Fauci and members of the House committee, with an explicit note that pardoning them is no indication that they are guilty of anything. I also hereby pardon my son Hunter.’_ ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2025, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-will-biden-issue-pardons-to-trumps-enemies/1010424/123 "2025-01-20T13:15:28Z")
Good move by Biden. I’m sure he saved a lot of good people a lot of unnecessary grief. ---
**Author:** ![Pedro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/919ad9/32.png) [@Pedro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pedro)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2025, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-will-biden-issue-pardons-to-trumps-enemies/1010424/124 "2025-01-20T13:34:05Z")
The US is now officially a Banana republic where the rule of law means nothing. I’m struggling mightily with the question of whether Biden is a worse president than W Bush. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2025, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-will-biden-issue-pardons-to-trumps-enemies/1010424/125 "2025-01-20T13:47:35Z")
I don’t see how giving pardons in advance of a soon to be politicized DOJ persecuting people for the purpose of political retribution is making the US a banana republic. If anything, it is an inoculation against banana republicanism. ---
**Author:** ![Pedro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/919ad9/32.png) [@Pedro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pedro)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2025, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-will-biden-issue-pardons-to-trumps-enemies/1010424/126 "2025-01-20T13:50:38Z")
First they were pardoned “without an admission of guilt”, which is a horrible precendent. Sencondly what do they have to fear if they didn’t do anything illegal (and I’m assuming they didn’t)? A politicized DOJ is banana republicanism so you answered your own question. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2025, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-will-biden-issue-pardons-to-trumps-enemies/1010424/127 "2025-01-20T13:52:30Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > If anything, it is an inoculation against banana republicanism. I’d say it more of an admission/recognition of banana republicanism. Everyone with any sense knew Trump was going to try to retaliate against these people. That’s banana republicanism, in a nutshell, and Biden just recognizing the reality of it doesn’t create it, or inoculate against it. Trump will just find someone else to use a punching bag. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2025, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-will-biden-issue-pardons-to-trumps-enemies/1010424/128 "2025-01-20T14:04:00Z")
> [@Pedro](#): > > Sencondly what do they have to fear if they didn’t do anything illegal (and I’m assuming they didn’t)? Trump. They have Trump to fear. ---
**Author:** ![Pedro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/919ad9/32.png) [@Pedro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pedro)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2025, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-will-biden-issue-pardons-to-trumps-enemies/1010424/129 "2025-01-20T14:07:07Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Trump. They have Trump to fear. So? What can the POTUS do to people who haven’t committed any crimes? Imprison them without trial? Assassinate them? ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2025, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-will-biden-issue-pardons-to-trumps-enemies/1010424/130 "2025-01-20T14:10:25Z")
Make them pay for legal counsel they can’t afford? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2025, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-will-biden-issue-pardons-to-trumps-enemies/1010424/131 "2025-01-20T14:11:59Z")
Yes. Also imprison them _with_ trial, if he controls the courts, which Trump does. I’m not making any of this up, you know. Trump has declared again and again that he was going to have these people arrested and prosecuted, even though there is no evidence they have ever committed any crimes, and even though that’s not supposed to be the President’s decision. ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2025, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-will-biden-issue-pardons-to-trumps-enemies/1010424/132 "2025-01-20T14:15:29Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Good move by Biden. I’m sure he saved a lot of good people a lot of unnecessary grief. Personally, I have mixed feelings. While it certainly did do that, (1) I think the nation as a whole might have benefited from seeing Trump abuse his power so brazenly, but then again (2) maybe that’s giving too much credit to Trump voters and (3) I am sure Trump will find other ways to exact revenge, possibly on those pardoned, but also surely on those the next rung down (or lower) who didn’t receive a pardon. So I guess it’s all a wash. But it really is (3) above that worries me the most. The most well off and politically connected people get extraordinary preemptive pardons. The rest of us… get whatever Trump wants to give us. We will not be spared. As an example, I know for a fact that a number of noncitizen US military veterans applied for but (thus far) have not received pardons, and so face deportation—possibly in the first round of ICE raids—barring some further last minute surge of pardons. ---
**Author:** ![Pedro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/919ad9/32.png) [@Pedro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pedro)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2025, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-will-biden-issue-pardons-to-trumps-enemies/1010424/133 "2025-01-20T14:22:38Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Yes. Also imprison them _with_ trial, if he controls the courts, which Trump does. I’m not any kind of legal scholar but I was under the impression that the judiciary was independent of the executive branch. Imprisoning people with a trial is how the justice system works. I’m in favor of putting criminals in prison myself. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2025, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-will-biden-issue-pardons-to-trumps-enemies/1010424/134 "2025-01-20T14:24:41Z")
> [@Pedro](#): > > I’m not any kind of legal scholar but I was under the impression that the judiciary was independent of the executive branch. That’s how it’s supposed to be, yes. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2025, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-will-biden-issue-pardons-to-trumps-enemies/1010424/135 "2025-01-20T14:30:06Z")
I was wondering about the legality of those “pocket pardons” that were spoken about wrt trump and his criminal cohorts. It would be sweet if they tried to prosecute someone only to have their prey pull out a pardon. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2025, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-will-biden-issue-pardons-to-trumps-enemies/1010424/136 "2025-01-20T14:33:24Z")
> [@Pedro](#): > > Sencondly what do they have to fear if they didn’t do anything illegal (and I’m assuming they didn’t)? While I also have mixed feelings about such pardons, Fauci in partiular in the twilight of his career doesn’t deserve being dragged through bogus show trials to benefit sleazy politicians (looking at YOU, Rand Paul). ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2025, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-will-biden-issue-pardons-to-trumps-enemies/1010424/137 "2025-01-20T14:34:55Z")
The judiciary is independent of the executive - but the prosecutors are not. There is no shortage of federal judges who either agree with Trump or who will do what he wants. And even if the case gets dismissed by a judge fairly early, there will still be legal bills. I don’t think anyone believes those people will be convicted- but that doesn’t matter if the goal is to “make them pay” ---
**Author:** ![jshore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5e925/32.png) [@jshore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jshore)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2025, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-will-biden-issue-pardons-to-trumps-enemies/1010424/138 "2025-01-20T14:37:39Z")
Biden’s statement explains this: > I believe in the rule of law, and I am optimistic that the strength of our legal institutions will ultimately prevail over politics… But these are exceptional circumstances, and I cannot in good conscience do nothing. Baseless and politically motivated investigations wreak havoc on the lives, safety and financial security of targeted individuals and their families…Even when individuals have done nothing wrong — and in fact have done the right thing — and will ultimately be exonerated, the mere fact of being investigated or prosecuted can irreparably damage reputations and finances. My opinion of these pardons is that they set a horrible precedent…but they were also probably the right thing to do. Because the even worse precedent that was set was the American people electing a vindictive criminal to the Presidency who, in his appointments to Attorney General and the FBI, has made it clear that his expressed desires for retribution are serious. ---
**Author:** ![Pedro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/919ad9/32.png) [@Pedro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pedro)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2025, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-will-biden-issue-pardons-to-trumps-enemies/1010424/139 "2025-01-20T14:40:15Z")
That’s an ironic justification by Biden because the mere fact that he issued these bogus pardons undermines the legal institutions he claims to believe in. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2025, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-will-biden-issue-pardons-to-trumps-enemies/1010424/140 "2025-01-20T14:47:03Z")
The whole thing is undermined when an insurrectionist not only doesn’t have his ass thrown in jail, but actually gets reelected. We’re through the looking glass, people. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-will-biden-issue-pardons-to-trumps-enemies/1010424.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-will-biden-issue-pardons-to-trumps-enemies/1010424.md?page=8)