Former U.S. President Donald Trump declared that the preventive pardons issued by his predecessor, Joe Biden, are not legally valid.
Just hours before leaving office on January 20, Biden granted several preventive pardons to members of Congress and officials, aiming to shield them from what he described as “unjust and politically motivated prosecutions.” Among those pardoned were former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley, former White House COVID-19 advisor Anthony Fauci, and officials involved in the investigation of the January 6 Capitol attack.
“Biden’s so-called ‘pardons’ for the unelected committee of political thugs and many others are now declared null and void,” Trump wrote on his platform, Truth Social.
Without presenting evidence, Trump claimed that the pardons were signed using a “mechanical pencil.” He also shared a meme suggesting that Biden’s signature was generated by a robotic arm, implying that Biden did not personally sign his decisions.
While the legal implications of Trump’s claims remain unclear, his statements align with his broader vow to “seek retribution” against political opponents. On his inauguration day, Trump condemned Biden’s pardons, asserting that those granted clemency were “very, very guilty of extremely serious crimes.”
