Anthony Fauci, the former White House special adviser during the coronavirus pandemic, and Mark Milley, who was Trump's military chief, are being pardoned in a preventive manner by President Joe Biden.
Even individuals who have been involved in investigating the storming of Congress on January 6, 2021, are being pardoned during Biden's final hours as president.
"Debt of gratitude"
"The issuance of these pardons should not be mistaken as an acknowledgment that anyone has committed any wrongdoing, nor should an acceptance be misinterpreted as an acknowledgment of guilt for any crime," says Biden in a statement.
"Our nation owes these public servants a debt of gratitude for their tireless commitment to our country."
Fauci, among other things, helped coordinate the United States' response to the coronavirus pandemic and upset Trump by not supporting his unfounded claims about how the pandemic should be handled.
Fauci has received harsh criticism due to mask mandates and other policies that critics believed infringed on their rights. Fauci himself says after Biden's announcement that he appreciates the pardon, that he has not committed any crime and does not see any grounds for prosecution.
Former General Mark Milley, who was Trump's military chief but later called him a fascist, says he is grateful for Biden's pardon so that he no longer has to worry about "retribution".
Opposed Trump
The announcement from Biden comes after Trump warned that he would list a number of people who he believes have opposed him in various ways, or who have tried to hold him accountable for his role in the storming of the Capitol.
Trump says in a written comment to NBC News that "it's shameful" of Biden to pardon the individuals, and that "many are guilty of serious crimes".
The President of the United States has the opportunity to issue a pardon, which provides a kind of legal amnesty for all types of charges – even for individuals who have not been accused of a crime. The pardons provide protection from the incoming government's potential attempts to bring criminal charges against them.
Corrected: In an earlier version of the text, Mark Milley was given the wrong title.
