Joe Biden’s world has completely fallen apart. Even his closest confidantes are jumping ship.
And this top Biden official threw the president under the bus for this humiliating reason.
HHS Secretary Becerra Warns Against Preemptive Pardons as Biden Weighs Decision
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra voiced strong concerns about the potential misuse of presidential pardons, just hours after President Biden revealed he was still considering granting preemptive pardons to figures like Dr. Anthony Fauci.
“It sinks my heart to think that we’re going to use the pardon process in a way that will follow the whims of whoever’s in the White House,” Becerra said during an interview with The New York Times on Wednesday.
Drawing on his experience as California’s attorney general before leading HHS, he added, “I think we should hold that power, that only a president has, in very high regard. Because otherwise, it becomes pedestrian, and it’s used anywhere, and I don’t think that should be the case.”
When asked directly if his comments implied opposition to a pardon for Fauci, Biden’s former chief medical adviser during the pandemic, Becerra declined to elaborate. “I won’t try to interpret what you’re hearing; I just told you what I think,” he said.
Becerra’s remarks followed Biden’s final interview with a print publication as president, where he acknowledged that preemptive pardons for individuals targeted by President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration remained under consideration.
Trump’s nominees for key justice roles, including Kash Patel as FBI director and Pam Bondi as attorney general, have openly supported pursuing investigations into individuals they allege targeted Trump unfairly.
Among those frequently mentioned is Dr. Fauci, who has faced accusations from Republicans and Trump’s transition advisers, including Elon Musk, over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Critics argue Fauci withheld information about the virus’s origins, evaded public records laws, and lied to Congress.
Trump’s pick to succeed Becerra at HHS, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., previously declared during his presidential run that he would seek to prosecute Fauci if evidence of wrongdoing surfaced.
Kennedy, now aligned with Trump’s team, echoed these sentiments, fueling speculation about Fauci’s potential legal exposure.
Within the Democratic Party, opinions are divided on Biden’s consideration of preemptive pardons. Some, like Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Pa., have urged Biden to act decisively.
“If we’re serious about stopping Trump’s authoritarian ambitions, we need to act decisively and use every tool at our disposal,” Boyle said last month.
“The time for cautious restraint is over. We must act with urgency to push back against these threats and prevent Trump from abusing his power.”
Legal experts point to historical precedent for preemptive pardons, citing President Gerald Ford’s 1974 blanket pardon of Richard Nixon for potential crimes during his presidency, even though Nixon faced no formal charges.
As the debate continues, the decision remains in Biden’s hands. Fox News Digital reached out to HHS for comment on Becerra’s statements but received no response before publication.
Stay tuned to the DC Daily Journal.
