In his last hours as the president, Joe Biden took full advantage of his pardoning powers with several bombshell announcements regarding pardons of some very high-level people.

According to the New York Post, Biden, on Sunday evening, announced the pre-emptive pardons of several individuals who he claims Trump would have gone after if they lacked any kind of protection. 

Those individuals included Dr. Anthony Fauci, former lawmaker Liz Cheney, Sen. Adam Schiff, Gen. Mark Milley, and other members of the Jan. 6 House Committee.

In late-breaking news on Monday, with minutes left in office, Biden also issued pre-emptive pardons for several of his close family members, including his two brothers, Frank and Francis.

What did he say?

Biden, in a statement Sunday evening, announced why he issued the pardons for those who he believes Trump would have gone after in the coming weeks and months.

"I believe in the rule of law, and I am optimistic that the strength of our legal institutions will ultimately prevail over politics,” Biden said in a statement. "But these are exceptional circumstances, and I cannot in good conscience do nothing."

Biden claimed that the people he pardoned were subject to "ongoing threats and intimidation for faithfully discharging their duties."

“In certain cases, some have even been threatened with criminal prosecutions, including General Mark A. Milley, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, and the members and staff of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol," Biden added.

10 days ago, Biden said he will only pardon individuals who committed crimes.

Today he pardoned Fauci, Milley, Cheney, EVERYONE on the J/6th Committee. pic.twitter.com/VsJfysYSDQ

— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) January 20, 2025

"These public servants have served our nation with honor and distinction and do not deserve to be the targets of unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions," he continued.

Admission of guilt?

It wasn't just Republicans who slammed Biden for issuing the pardons, which was an unprecedented test of executive pardoning power, but also many Democrats were not thrilled with the move.

"I think preemptive pardons seem to imply guilt,” Rep. Jake Auchincloss, a Massachusetts Democrat, previously said.

Democrat Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota also wasn't a fan.

"I am not a fan of these. I didn’t like the pardon of the president’s son. I didn’t think that that was prudent," she said.