Here’s What People Who Received Biden Pardons Have Said About Them In The Past

Some of the people who received preemptive pardons from President Joe Biden have previously condemned the idea of President Donald Trump issuing such pardons.

On Monday, Biden preemptively pardoned Dr. Anthony Fauci, Gen. Mark Milley, and members of the January 6 Committee, including Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL).

Kinzinger and Schiff have both claimed in the past that accepting a presidential pardon would amount to an admission of guilt, but both have been quiet after receiving their own preemptive pardons.

Just two weeks ago, Kinzinger said on CNN that he didn’t want a pardon because “the second you take a pardon, it looks like you’re guilty of something.”

“I’m guilty of nothing besides bringing the truth to the American people and, in the process, embarrassing Donald Trump,” Kinzinger continued.

????Now-pardoned Adam Kinzinger said he didn’t want one two weeks ago:

“The second you take a pardon, it looks like you’re guilty of something.”pic.twitter.com/LVqqD7vAnZ

— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) January 20, 2025

Kinzinger said something similar in a social media post on June 23, 2022.

“Some of my colleagues failed to uphold that oath & requested pardons from the Trump Administration,” Kinzinger wrote on X. “More to come, but the only reason I know to ask for a pardon is because you think you’ve committed a crime.”

As Members, we take an oath to support & defend the Constitution. Some of my colleagues failed to uphold that oath & requested pardons from the Trump Administration.

More to come, but the only reason I know to ask for a pardon is because you think you’ve committed a crime. pic.twitter.com/BLKWo5XpUD

— Adam Kinzinger (@RepKinzinger) June 23, 2022

Schiff also denounced presidential pardons on July 23, 2020, after Trump pardoned his former political consultant, Roger Stone. In that case, Stone had been investigated, tried, and convicted when Trump pardoned him. Biden’s pardons preempt any investigation or trial.

“The power to pardon can be used to right a wrong, give people a second chance, or provide leniency when it’s deserved,” Schiff posted on X. “Or, if you’re Trump, it can be abused to reward a crony who lied to cover up your misconduct. We must prevent future abuse of the pardon power. And we will.”

The power to pardon can be used to right a wrong, give people a second chance, or provide leniency when it’s deserved.

Or, if you’re Trump, it can be abused to reward a crony who lied to cover up your misconduct.

We must prevent future abuse of the pardon power. And we will. https://t.co/MBYumpnT1D

— Adam Schiff (@AdamSchiff) July 23, 2020

Fauci thanked Biden for the pardon but claimed he committed no crime – without saying he would reject it.

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“I really truly appreciate the action President Biden has taken today on my behalf,” Fauci told ABC News chief White House correspondent Jonathan Karl. “Let me be perfectly clear, Jon, I have committed no crime, you know that, and there are no possible grounds for any allegation or threat of criminal investigation or prosecution of me.”

Dr. Anthony Fauci tells me he appreciates the pardon, but he committed no crime:

“I really truly appreciate the action President Biden has taken today on my behalf. Let me be perfectly clear, Jon, I have committed no crime, you know that, and there are no possible grounds for…

— Jonathan Karl (@jonkarl) January 20, 2025

Biden has now preemptively pardoned his son, Hunter, his brothers and sister and their spouses, and political allies who investigated Trump. The pardons come years after Biden himself suggested such pardons were something he would never grant.

“Now in terms of the pardons, you’re not going to see in our administration that kind of approach to pardons,” Biden told CNN in 2020. “Nor are you going to see in our administration the approach to making policy by tweets. You know, it’s going to be a totally different way to which we approach the justice system.”