In a recent development, President Joe Biden, along with his senior White House officials, are reportedly contemplating a preemptive pardon for retired Gen.
Mark Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
This move is being considered in anticipation of the forthcoming inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, with fears that the Trump administration may take punitive action against Milley.
As reported by American Military News, the possibility of a preemptive pardon for Milley has been under discussion among White House officials. This comes in the wake of a backlash Milley faced during Biden's initial year in office. The New York Post had published a report revealing Milley's covert phone conversations with a high-ranking Chinese official before the 2020 presidential election and following the U.S. Capitol breach on January 6, 2021.
In a congressional hearing in September 2021, Milley confessed to contacting Chinese General Li Zuocheng, assuring him that he would personally alert the U.S. adversary if an attack on China was planned by the United States. Milley justified his actions by stating that U.S. intelligence suggested China was apprehensive about a potential U.S. strike under the Trump administration.
The revelation of Milley's clandestine communications with a top Chinese military official led to a call for his dismissal by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.). Rubio, who is slated to serve as the secretary of state under the second Trump administration, contended that Milley "worked to actively undermine the sitting Commander in Chief."
Former President Trump, in a post on Truth Social, characterized Milley as "a Woke train wreck" and asserted that his actions were "so egregious that, in times gone by, the punishment would have been DEATH." Trump further added that a war between China and the United States could have been the consequence of this "treasonous act."
Milley's controversial actions were not limited to his secret phone calls with China. In a recent book by Bob Woodward, an associate editor for The Washington Post, Milley is quoted as describing Trump as "fascist to the core" and labeling him "the most dangerous person to this country."
The news of a potential pardon for Milley comes on the heels of reports last week that Biden was considering similar preemptive pardons for Dr. Anthony Fauci, former head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Sen.-elect Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and former Republican Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney. These developments raise questions about the Biden administration's approach to dealing with potential political fallout and its commitment to accountability.
Login