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Top Senate Dem Speaks Out Against Biden's Pardons

Leah Barkoukis
Leah Barkoukis  |  December 09, 2024 8:00 AM

The Democratic Party is not taking President Biden’s pardon of his son, Hunter, well at all. Tensions were already high after the election and the pardon seems to be the straw that broke the camel’s back, especially given the president had long said he wouldn’t do it. Now that he’s on his way out the door, many Democrats have publicly rebuked the decision, which may not end up being the only controversial pardon he issues. There’s talk the president could possibly issue other blanket pardons, such as for his brother, James, and preemptive pardons for figures such as Anthony Fauci, Adam Schiff, and Liz Cheney. 

Asked about the preemptive pardons over the weekend, top Senate Democrat Amy Klobuchar joined the chorus of criticism, telling MSNBC’s Jen Psaki she’s “not a fan of these.” 

“I didn’t like the pardon of the president’s son. I didn’t think that that was prudent. But I also am very concerned about this idea of the preemptive pardons,” she said. “I am, of everyone, very concerned about what Trump is going to do with this Justice Department. 

“I actually spoke to Adam Schiff this weekend about this in anticipation that you might ask…he has publicly said that he does not want a preemptive pardon, that he believes that this is a nation of laws and that there are judges that make decisions all the time, including during the last Trump administration, including Republican appointees from many different administrations, who did the right thing in many cases under the law,” continued the No. 3 Senate Democrat. 

“And so this is you know, the president has this power. I would prefer that we-- actually Trump abused this pardon power,” she added. “I think that we should have pardon reform. It is a right of these presidents.

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“But you could have a committee set up. You could have suggestions from a board. You could do all kinds of things. That’s what I’d like to see," Klobuchar said.