Is Biden scared? He should be.
Throughout his presidency, Joe Biden has faced mounting scrutiny over allegations that he and his family benefited financially from influence-peddling schemes spanning his years as a U.S. senator, vice president, and private citizen. These claims have been a focal point of investigations in the House of Representatives. Despite the ongoing probes, President Biden stated on Friday that he has no intention of issuing a self-pardon, dismissing any notion of wrongdoing.
When asked about the possibility of pardoning himself, Biden firmly responded, “Why should I pardon myself? No, I have no plan of pardoning myself. I did not do anything wrong.” This remark came in the wake of his controversial decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden, for federal felony gun and tax offenses, as well as any potential crimes Hunter may have committed from 2014 to 2024.
While Biden has ruled out pardoning himself, he has signaled that he may consider pardoning individuals like former Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., and Dr. Anthony Fauci. Cheney, who served as vice chair of the Democrat-led House committee that investigated the January 6 Capitol riot, could face retaliation from a future Republican administration under President-elect Donald Trump. Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, may also be in Biden’s sights for a preemptive pardon due to his role in the COVID-19 response.
Biden, at 81 years old, the oldest president in U.S. history, also addressed the prospect of his future public life after leaving office. “I’m not going to be out of sight or out of mind,” he said, indicating that he intends to remain a vocal figure in American politics.
Reflecting on his decision not to run for re-election, Biden claimed that stepping aside was a strategic move to ensure party unity, asserting that he and Vice President Kamala Harris would have defeated Donald Trump had they stayed in the race. “I didn’t want to be the one who caused a divided party to lose an election,” he explained.