Staff Reports
Senate Democrats find themselves in a bit of a pickle as they ponder whether President Biden should channel his final moments in office into issuing preemptive pardons. This dramatic turn of events is intended to protect those who might face political retribution from the incoming President Trump. If there weren’t enough melodrama in Washington, now there’s the specter of pardons on the docket, reminiscent of a soap opera’s season finale.
Rumblings among senators indicate heightened concerns over Trump’s habit of threatening those he antagonizes politically. With Trump hinting at “enemies from within,” you’d think he was in a James Bond movie. As he gears up for a return to the White House, whispers of revenge against people like special counsel Jack Smith and New York Attorney General Letitia James have Senate liberals on edge. They seem convinced that Trump’s picks for key positions like attorney general and FBI director are less about credentials and more about seeking vengeance on perceived enemies.
BREAKING: Some Democrats are now calling for Joe Biden to issue “Preemptive Pardons” for himself, his associates, top officials, Jack Smith and the Special Counsel to prevent prosecution from the Attorney General in the Trump Administration.
— Ian Jaeger (@IanJaeger29) December 2, 2024
One Senate aide, keen to remain cloaked in anonymity, pondered how discussions of pardons could even be possible after Trump’s fiery rhetoric. The threats don’t stop at Democrats; they include former Vice President Mike Pence and even Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. It appears Trump’s list of grievances is as expansive as a holiday shopping list, ensuring no one feels safe as he approaches the presidency.
In a move straight out of the Liberal Playbook, Senator Ed Markey proposed that Biden consider “preemptive pardons” for people whom he believes are at risk of being targeted. Markey surprisingly likened current events to Gerald Ford’s pardon of Richard Nixon—because that’s exactly what Americans want to hear right now, comparisons to a scandal that rocked the nation. There’s a sense of urgency among some Democrats, but also a wave of confusion as others struggle to determine if this “pardon party” is a good idea or just a desperate move.
Interestingly, a majority of Senate Democrats aren’t sold on Markey’s bold approach. Senator Tim Kaine tossed cold water on the idea, advising against it, while others in the party urged Trump to take a pledge of peace, vowing to leave his political adversaries be. Outgoing Senator Joe Manchin even suggested that pardoning Trump might be the way to “balance things out”—that’s right, he suggested pardoning a man who never even faced charges, further showcasing the left’s struggle with the concept of law and justice.
Outside the walls of Congress, other Democrats have expressed serious doubts about the optics of Biden tossing out pardons like party favors. With Trump not presently facing charges, the practicality of such preemptive measures seems flimsy and leads to awkward conversations about politicizing the Justice Department. It’s a discombobulating scene in which Democrats are left hoping they can keep Trump’s revenge fantasies at bay, all while contemplating the messy political implications of the pardoning power.
