Just hours before handing over power to Donald Trump, Joe Biden granted pardons to elected officials and public officials to protect them from "unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions," American media reported.

Among them is Anthony Fauci , the former head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases who managed the Covid emergency by clashing with Trump and became a lightning rod for criticism from the right during the pandemic.

Among the other figures to whom Joe Biden has granted pardons are several public officials who participated in the commission investigating the storming of the Capitol on January 6, 2021, as well as police officers who testified before the same commission .

“Our nation relies on dedicated and selfless public servants every day. They are the lifeblood of our democracy,” Biden wrote in his decision. “Yet , alarmingly, they have been subjected to persistent threats and intimidation for faithfully carrying out their duties ,” he continued, noting that pardons do not indicate guilt.

"The issuance of these pardons should not be construed as an acknowledgement that an individual has committed wrongdoing , nor should acceptance be misconstrued as an admission of guilt for a crime. Our nation owes these public officials a debt of gratitude for their tireless commitment to our country," he said.

(Online Union)

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