Amidst discussions of potential preemptive pardons by the Biden administration for individuals who might face scrutiny under a returning Trump administration, a prominent journalist cautions against such a move. Ruth Marcus, associate editor at the Washington Post, argues that while the threat of politically motivated prosecutions under Trump is real, preemptive pardons would set a dangerous precedent, potentially encouraging future presidents to abuse their pardon power.

This discussion follows President Biden's pardon of his son, Hunter Biden, for any potential crimes committed between 2014 and 2024. Reports indicate that White House counsel, Ed Siskel, is leading discussions about possible pardons for figures like Dr. Anthony Fauci, Senator-elect Adam Schiff, and former Representative Liz Cheney, all of whom have been targets of Trump's criticism. While these discussions are reportedly taking place among senior Biden aides, President Biden himself has not yet participated.

Marcus acknowledges the legitimate concern that Trump might pursue politically motivated charges against his opponents. However, she contends that preemptive pardons, especially on such a potentially large scale, would be unprecedented and could normalize the use of pardons to shield allies from legitimate investigations in the future. She emphasizes that such a move would be a significant departure from historical precedent and could have long-lasting consequences for the integrity of the pardon power.

Contribution from Fox News Digital’s Danielle Wallace.