In a dramatic move during his final hours in office, President Joe Biden issued a series of high-profile pardons, granting clemency to Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired Gen. Mark Milley, and several members of the House committee that investigated the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and chief medical advisor to Presidents Trump and Biden, faced significant criticism during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Critics argue that Fauci made several missteps or controversial decisions regarding public health policies and pandemic management. Some of the main criticisms against Fauci include:
- Fauci initially stated in early 2020 that masks were not necessary for the general public, only to later strongly advocate for widespread mask-wearing.
- Fauci defended his change in stance by saying that the early guidance was aimed at preserving limited PPE supplies for healthcare workers and that new data later showed the effectiveness of mask-wearing in preventing virus transmission.
Fauci and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have been accused of funding “gain-of-function” research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China, which some believe could have contributed to the origins of COVID-19.
Many argue that Fauci’s support for lockdowns, social distancing, and business closures contributed to severe economic downturns, job losses, and mental health crises.
Fauci’s emails, which were made public through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, revealed private conversations about the origins of the virus and vaccine skepticism. Critics claim these emails show that Fauci downplayed the possibility of a lab leak early in the pandemic.
Some have viewed Fauci’s endorsement of vaccine mandates in workplaces and schools as government overreach and a violation of personal freedoms, he was also accused of shifting the goalposts regarding the percentage of the population needed to achieve herd immunity, moving the figure from 60-70% to 80-90%.
Fauci supported prolonged school closures, which critics argue led to learning loss and social isolation for children, despite emerging data suggesting that children were at lower risk for severe illness.
Retired Gen. Mark Milley, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who served under both Trump and Biden. Milley drew Trump’s ire after reportedly taking steps to ensure the former president could not unilaterally launch military action following the 2020 election.
Milley also described Trump as a threat to democracy in his memoir and had been a vocal critic of the January 6 riot and a strong proponent of DEI in the military.
READ: Biden Grants Clemency To 7, Posthumous Pardon For Civil Rights Leader Marcus Garvey
Members of the House January 6 Committee, including former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) and former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), who played key roles in investigating Trump. RELATED: In PBS Documentary, J6 Committee Members, Supporters Acknowledge Proceeding Was A Sham
Both Kinzinger and Cheney were among the most vocal Republicans condemning Trump’s role in the Capitol riot. They believed that Trump’s claims of election fraud and his rhetoric directly incited the violence that took place that day.
Cheney, in particular, stated that Trump’s refusal to accept the election results posed a direct threat to democracy, while Kinzinger called his actions an “utter betrayal” of the Constitution.
Both were the only two Republicans to serve on the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6 Attack, which conducted hearings and issued reports.
Liz Cheney was ousted from her leadership position as House Republican Conference Chair in 2021 due to her criticism of Trump.
Adam Kinzinger opted not to seek reelection, citing the toxicity within the party and the threats he faced for speaking out.
Cheney lost her seat in a 2022 primary to a Trump-backed candidate, reinforcing Trump’s grip on the GOP.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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