Charlamagne Tha God has criticized Joe Biden over reports that he could issue preemptive pardons to political figures he believes could face the wrath of the incoming Trump administration.
Rumors swirled last week that among those being discussed for a general pardon are former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, newly elected Sen. Adam Schiff and Dr. Anthony Fauci.
And Bill Clinton said Wednesday he was willing to talk to Biden about a likely pardon for his wife Hillary Clinton, in case President-elect Donald Trump finally tries to make good on his promise to “lock her up.”
Charlamagne, real name Lenard McKelvey, said this possible pardon makes everyone involved look suspicious and criticized the “old” Biden.
He asked on The Breakfast Club on Thursday: ‘Why should I pardon you if there are no crimes connected to you? Doesn’t that make you look guilty if I preemptively pardon you?’
Co-host DJ Envy played devil’s advocate, suggesting it “means we know who Trump is, and we know what Trump is likely to do.”
Charlamagne immediately pushed back, saying, “Or it could mean Trump knows something we don’t, and that’s why he’s going after these people.”
He had already suggested the types of people who should be pardoned, including non-violent drug offenders in federal prison, as well as former Maryland State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby.
Radio star Charlamagne tha God has ripped into Joe Biden over reports that he could offer pre-emptive pardons to political figures he believes could face the wrath of the incoming Trump administration
Rumors circulated last week that among those being discussed by Biden for a general pardon are former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, Sen.-elect Adam Schiff and Dr. Anthony Fauci.
“I just don’t understand why you would pardon someone preemptively. It feels like saying, “Okay, I know this person is guilty of something, and Trump might go after him.”
Biden — who has been busy dealing with the fallout from his decision to pardon his son Hunter for gun and tax crimes — has not yet been included in the discussions, the outlet said.
White House officials fear that pardoning people who have not been charged with a crime could indicate impropriety.
But there are also concerns that if Kash Patel is successfully elevated to head of the FBI, Trump could really go after his critics, as Patel has suggested.
Politico reported that “the beneficiaries are unaware” that the Biden administration was eligible for a preemptive pardon.
Schiff said he wouldn’t want to be a receiver.
“I would urge the president not to do that,” Schiff told Politico. “I think it seems defensive and unnecessary.”
On Thursday, Biden announced he would commute the sentences of 1,500 people and pardon 39 others, in the largest single-day act of clemency ever in the US.
Aides to President Joe Biden discuss whether to issue blanket pardons to those considered enemies of President-elect Donald Trump, including former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney (R), who campaigned alongside Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris
Bill Clinton said on The View that he was willing to talk to President Joe Biden about a likely pardon for Hillary Clinton
The commutation was announced for those placed under home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Biden said these people would have received shorter sentences if charged under current laws, policies and practices.
Officials said last week that the White House was listening to demands for Biden to grant the same pardons to thousands of people wronged by the US justice system.
Sources had told Reuters that the pardons being discussed included those convicted of non-violent drug offenses and people identified by civil rights groups as wrongfully imprisoned.
Biden said he would take more steps in the coming weeks and continue to review clemency requests.
Republicans denounced the pardons and commutations saying the Squad Liberals must have influenced him.
“Whatever legacy he thought he had, he destroyed it,” Texas Republican Rep. Jake Ellzey told DailyMail.com.
He called it “nonsense” that Biden would show the greatest act of clemency ever, while on a separate day he himself would pardon his son Hunter. “That’s going to have to be explained to the people on the other side of the aisle,” he added.
Biden — who has been busy dealing with the fallout from his decision to pardon his son Hunter for gun and tax crimes — has not yet been included in the discussions, the outlet said.
“So this is not a surprise, believe me,” another Texas Republican, Troy Nehls, told DailyMail.com. He said Biden likely has many more payouts in store for close allies.
“He’s still going to do something for maybe some of the J6 committee and some of these others,” Nehls continued.
However, Democrats were enthusiastic about Biden’s historic action.
“I’m encouraged by what he did this morning,” Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., said Thursday.
“The President showed this morning that he is focused on issues of equality. He is focused on principles. And he came out in a powerful way.”
Squad member Ayanna Pressley several days ago pressured Biden to provide commutations for criminals, saying, “He needs to use that power before he leaves office.”
“This is about saving lives and addressing the injustices of our justice system,” her post on Tuesday read.
On Thursday she celebrated the president’s choice.
President Joe Biden commuted the sentences for nearly 1,500 non-violent criminals on Thursday. Earlier this month, he pardoned his son Hunter Biden. Now some lawmakers are wondering whether the Democrat’s last-minute moves will further damage his reputation
‘Clemency changes and saves lives. And thanks to (Biden), the lives of 1,500 families will be changed forever,” she wrote on X Thursday.
One Republican said Biden’s picks were unacceptable choices because of their alleged pasts.
“Joe Biden’s massive clemency announcement featured two CCP spies and a child predator. How on earth is this acceptable?’ Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., posted on X.
“The left is evil, and this regime must be held accountable for the destruction they have wrought on our country,” he continued.
Biggs was referring to Shanlin Jin, who was not actually included in Biden’s latest round of clemency.
He had pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography after 47,000 images were found on his computer, which were part of a November prisoner swap to return to China.
The second largest act of clemency in a single day was by Barack Obama, with 330, shortly before he left office in 2017.
Other presidents have issued controversial pardons — usually in the final days of their presidencies.
In 1974, President Gerald Ford pardoned his predecessor Richard Nixon for all crimes he “committed or may have committed” in the Watergate scandal. This was the first preventive pardon by a president.
In 2001, President Bill Clinton on his last day in office pardoned 140 people, including billionaire Marc Rich, who had been a fugitive for decades on fraud charges related to making illegal oil deals and failing to pay more than $48 million in taxes.
Family pardons are also not unheard of in presidential history. Before leaving office, Clinton granted brother Roger a controversial presidential pardon for a 1985 cocaine trafficking conviction.
Trump himself pardoned Charles Kushner, father of son-in-law and ex-adviser Jared, before leaving office in 2020. Yesterday, Kushner was appointed US ambassador to France.
In the last 12 hours of his presidency, Donald Trump pardoned and commuted the sentences of 144 people, including former advisers Stephen Bannon and Roger Stone, as well as rapper Lil Wayne.