President Joe Biden on his final day in office on Jan. 20 issued several preemptive pardons, including for family members.
He issued pardons for Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired Gen. Mark Milley, and those who served on the U.S. House of Representatives committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol.
Biden also granted preemptive pardons to law enforcement officers who provided testimony to the House panel.
A preemptive pardon, while somewhat rare, is not without precedent. Although most pardons are granted following a conviction or a guilty plea, preemptive pardons have been granted in certain specific cases, usually to handle politically sensitive or legally ambiguous issues….