As his time in office draws to a close, President Biden has revealed he's still contemplating pre-emptive pardons for individuals potentially facing political repercussions under the incoming Trump administration. This disclosure came during a recent interview with USA Today, where Biden confirmed he's weighing pardons for figures like former Rep. Liz Cheney and Dr. Anthony Fauci.

Biden recounted advising President-elect Trump against pursuing political vendettas during their post-election meeting, though he noted Trump offered no definitive response. This consideration of pre-emptive pardons follows Biden's pardon of his son, Hunter, on tax and gun charges, a move he previously stated he wasn't contemplating.

Biden's recent clemency actions include a record-setting single-day commutation of approximately 1,500 sentences in December. This wave of pardons and commutations has sparked debate, with some Democrats expressing concern about the potential precedent set by such broad measures, particularly for individuals perceived as political adversaries. Others, however, advocate for these pardons, citing apprehension over potential actions by the incoming administration.

Sen. Adam Schiff, a potential recipient of such a pardon, expressed reservations about the normalization of widespread pre-emptive pardons. However, he refrained from indicating whether he would decline a pardon if offered. Conversely, Sen. Ed Markey voiced support for pre-emptive pardons, citing concerns about potential retaliatory actions from the incoming Trump administration.

The White House has not yet responded to requests for comment on this matter.