Shortly before the change

Biden pardons Trump opponents as a precaution

Joe Biden(Bild: AFP)

Shortly before leaving the White House, US President Joe Biden pardoned political opponents of his successor Donald Trump. While the inauguration of his successor was already underway, it became public that he also protected family members from prosecution.

These include his brothers James and Frank as well as his sister Valerie and her spouse. An unprecedented and extraordinary step. Shortly before that, he pardoned members of Congress from the committee investigating the storming of the Capitol by Trump supporters in 2020.

According to initial information, immunologist Anthony Fauci, who became known in the USA during the coronavirus pandemic, and Trump's then Chief of Staff Mark Milley will also be pardoned. This was announced by the White House on Monday.

Unusual move controversial even among Democrats
In recent weeks, there had been heated debate about whether Biden should pardon some of Trump's political opponents. Some Democrats argued that this would create the impression that the people concerned had actually committed crimes that should now be covered up. Pardons would lead to them being seen as criminals. Supporters, on the other hand, argued that Trump could make good on his threats. 

A US president has the power to shorten the sentences of offenders convicted under federal law, or to pardon convicts altogether. It is quite common for a president to make use of this power, especially before leaving office. However, precautionary pardons, which are intended to protect against possible future charges at federal level, are quite unusual

As reported, the inauguration of US President Donald Trump is scheduled for Monday. He has already announced that he will pardon his own supporters who took part in the storming of the Capitol and were sentenced to prison.