Biden team considers legal shields for officials as power transfer approaches

White House weighs pre-emptive pardons for key administration figures and Trump critics. The move comes as transition talks heat-up with potential legal challenges from next administration

December 5 2024 , 09:35 PM  •  799 views

Biden team considers legal shields for officials as power transfer approaches

The White House is looking into special legal protections for several high-profile figures as the administration enters its final weeks. President Joe Biden and his top-level staff are checking options for pre-emptive pardons: a move that shows growing worry about post-term legal actions

Key people on the protection list include Dr Anthony Fauci‚ who managed covid response (a role that put him in the cross-hairs of many critics); General Mark Milley‚ the ex-military chief who didnt hide his views about previous leadership; Adam Schiff‚ whos heading to Senate after leading first impeachment process‚ and Liz Cheney — the out-spoken republican who stood against her partys main figure

The discussions started after various hints about possible future investigations: something that many see as political pay-back. The White House team is working fast to set-up safety nets — this shows how much the political climate has changed since previous transitions. The legal team thinks these steps might help block any politically-driven cases that could pop-up next year