The White House sidestepped questions on the possibility of President Joe Biden issuing preemptive pardons to people who could be targeted in a Trump administration.
Jean-Pierre later disputed the characterization that she wasn’t ruling out preemptive pardons, saying, “I’m not confirming anything. I’m just saying I’m not going to get – there’s a process.”
Those comments come after CNN reported that senior Biden White House aides, administration officials and prominent defense attorneys in Washington, DC, are discussing potential preemptive pardons or legal aid for people who might be targeted for prosecution by President-elect Donald Trump after he retakes power, according to multiple sources.
The move, which would cover people who haven’t ever been formally accused of any crimes, would be an extraordinary step and shows the grave concerns many Democrats have that Trump will prosecute a range of figures that he considers to be his enemies.
On Friday, Jean-Pierre pointed to Biden’s previous actions on pardons and commutations, including those for marijuana possession convictions, nonviolent drug offenders who demonstrated commitment to rehabilitation, and military convictions for LGBTQ+ servicemembers, previewing “more to come” on that front, likely “around the holidays.”
Pressed once more, Jean-Pierre indicated that Biden is “reviewing next steps.”
Jean-Pierre also faced an onslaught of questions about Biden’s decision to pardon his son – and her own credibility – after the White House insisted for months the president would not pardon Hunter Biden. Asked if Biden regretted misleading the public about the eventual pardon, the White House press secretary would not directly answer.
Jean-Pierre was also asked if she owed an apology to the press and the American people, to which she strongly pushed back.
“I know what I said,” she said. “I know what the president said. That is where we were at the time. That is where the president was at the time. I am his spokesperson. This weekend, he thought about it he wrestled with it. He wrestled with it and made this decision. That’s what I can tell the American people.”
