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The US president says he intends to address the Democrats’ use of clemency for political purposes later
US President Donald Trump criticized his predecessor Joe Biden on Monday for pre-emptively pardoning his family members as one of his last acts in office.
Biden granted clemency on Monday to his relatives, including his brother James Biden, who has been accused by Republicans of influence-peddling and making false statements to Congress. In early December, the former president issued a controversial blanket pardon to his son Hunter, expunging his criminal record of a gun crime conviction.
Following his inauguration, Trump commented on Biden’s final order of leniency at an executive order-signing ceremony, saying “it was unfortunate that he did that.”
The president made similar remarks at Capital One Arena in Washington shortly after taking office, where he also reiterated his intention to pardon hundreds of people convicted for their roles in the 2021 Capitol riot. Trump claimed he had followed the advice of his aides not to mention Biden’s use of clemency powers during his inauguration address.
”I finished my speech, and they said, ‘Sir he pardoned his whole family’. I said: ‘Oh, can I go back out there and talk about it?’,” Trump told cheering supporters, adding: “We have plenty of time to talk about it.”
Biden has also shielded from prosecution former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley, Dr. Anthony Fauci, who led the US response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and members of the congressional committee, which investigated the Capitol riot. In a text cited by NBC anchor Kristen Welker, Trump reportedly called the order “disgraceful”, adding that “many are guilty of MAJOR CRIMES.”
Biden has emphasized that his “issuance of these pardons should not be mistaken as an acknowledgment that any individual engaged in any wrongdoing.” Democrats have reasoned that Trump could abuse his presidential power in order to pursue a personal vendetta.
Critics, including Milley, denounced Trump as a “fascist” during his second presidential campaign. The Republican accused his opponents of conducting a political “witch hunt” against him.
Trump’s campaign victory has set a precedent, as he became the first US president to be elected after being convicted of a felony, stemming from a case in New York involving hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
