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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
World
Sam Levine in New York and Guardian staff

What is a presidential pardon and can Biden issue it preemptively?

a man in a suit speaks into a microphone
Joe Biden speaks in Washington DC on 16 December 2024. Photograph: REX/Shutterstock

Joe Biden is reportedly considering issuing a number of preemptive pardons for top critics of Donald Trump.

Many top Democrats have urged the US president to consider blanket pardons due to fears that the president-elect will follow through on threats of legal retribution against his critics when he re-takes office in January. Among those speculated to receive clemency are California senator Adam Schiff, California congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, and former Wyoming congresswoman Liz Cheney – all of whom have been publicly threatened by Trump.

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