Adam Schiff Has a Surprising Take on Biden’s Last-Minute Pardoning Spree [WATCH]

On Monday, outgoing President Joe Biden issued preemptive pardons for several high-profile individuals, including former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley, former White House health adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci, and members of the January 6 Select Committee.

The decision, announced just hours before President Donald Trump’s inauguration, has sparked renewed debate over the use of presidential pardons, with mixed reactions from some of those directly impacted.

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One of the pardoned individuals, now-Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA), expressed reservations about the move, despite being a beneficiary of Biden’s decision.

Schiff’s reaction is noteworthy given his past criticisms of pardon practices during Trump’s first term.

Schiff, who served as a prominent member of the January 6 Select Committee, previously warned against pardons that could create the perception of shielding allies from accountability.

Footage circulated on Monday showing Schiff’s past comments criticizing the idea of preemptive pardons.

“To people of their own party or of their own administration, that I think would tend to encourage people to feel they’re not beholden to the law because the outgoing president will give them a prospective pardon,” Schiff said at the time. “So I think it’s unwise policy. And I would urge the president not to go down that road.”

Adam Schiff said he thought 11th hour blanket pardons to members of the president’s party was a bad idea:

“I think it’s unnecessary. But I also think it’s unwise. I don’t want to see a precedent where you start to have presidents on the eve of leaving office, issuing blanket… pic.twitter.com/xsG92sEwjA

— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) January 20, 2025

Even before the pardons were confirmed, Schiff voiced skepticism about the rumors of Biden considering such a move.

Speaking to CNN’s Manu Raju on Monday, Schiff maintained that the pardons were “not necessary.”

“I continue to think they were not necessary,” Schiff told Raju. While acknowledging the potential reasoning behind Biden’s decision, he expressed concerns about the precedent it sets. “I understand why the president did it,” Schiff added.

Schiff also revealed that he had not been consulted about the pardon in advance and was surprised by the decision.

Sen. Adam Schiff, a former member of the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 attack, told me that he thinks the preemptive pardons issued to members of the panel by Joe Biden were unnecessary.

“I continue to think they were not necessary,” he said

Schiff said he…

— Manu Raju (@mkraju) January 20, 2025

Biden’s decision to issue these preemptive pardons comes amid speculation about potential legal or congressional investigations targeting Milley, Fauci, and members of the January 6 Select Committee under the incoming Trump administration.

While Biden has defended the move as a protective measure, critics argue that it undermines the principles of accountability and transparency.

During his presidency, Biden repeatedly accused Trump of abusing the pardon power, a claim that now invites scrutiny following his own controversial pardons.

The move to include family members in his final round of clemency has further intensified the backlash.

The impact of these pardons on the political landscape remains uncertain, particularly for Schiff and other prominent members of what Trump has referred to as the “unselect committee.”

Trump has long criticized the committee’s handling of the January 6 investigation and has signaled plans to revisit its actions during his second term.

Schiff’s comments reflect a broader debate within the Democratic Party over the appropriateness of Biden’s last-minute clemency decisions.

As Schiff and others navigate the political fallout, questions about the long-term implications of the pardons will likely persist.

President Trump’s administration has already begun implementing new policies and priorities, leaving the Biden-era pardons as a lingering issue for lawmakers and political observers.

Whether these pardons will shield their recipients from further scrutiny or amplify calls for accountability remains to be seen.

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