WASHINGTON • President Joe Biden on Monday pardoned Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired Gen. Mark Milley, Mississippi Rep. Bennie Thompson and other members of the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.

Thompson encouraged Americans to pay attention to how Trump is starting his second term after he issued 1,500 pardons to Jan. 6 rioters.

Retired Gen. Mark Milley has expressed his gratitude to President Joe Biden for issuing him a pardon, saying the move alleviates his concerns over potential "retribution" by the incoming Trump administration.

The former joint chiefs chairman received a pre-emptive pardon from Biden on Monday, just hours before he left office.

As one of President Joe Biden's final acts Monday, he announced several pre-emptive pardons including that of Mississippi Congressman Bennie Thompson.

President Biden said the pardons are not an "acknowledgment that any individual engaged in any wrongdoing" but rather protect individuals from "unjustified and politically motivated prosectutions."

In his final hours to guard against potential “revenge” by the incoming Trump administration, President Joe Biden issued pardons for members of the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.

President Biden noted that the "should not be mistaken as an acknowledgment that any individual engaged in any wrongdoing."

Speaker Mike Johnson said Wednesday that Congress will “look into” Joe Biden pardoning his family—but said Donald Trump’s clemency for Jan. 6 rioters was about “redemption.” The top House Republican also announced another select committee on January 6,

As Hegseth’s hearing proceeded before the Senate Armed Services Committee, there was an air of unreality to the nominee’s performance. Moreover, the committee’s Republican majority seemed to have little appreciation for the gravity of decisions required of the defense secretary.

The preemptive pardons, described by Biden, aim to prevent the “baseless and politically motivated investigations” that could harm the reputations and finances of those targeted. He emphasized, “Even when individuals have done nothing wrong—and in fact have done the right thing—the mere fact of being investigated or prosecuted can irreparably damage reputations and finances.