President Joe Biden’s pardons may have inadvertently placed those who received them in a precarious position, as they can no longer evade the obligation to speak the truth.
According to a recent report, individuals such as Dr. Anthony Fauci and former Republican Representative Liz Cheney, who were granted pardons, are no longer able to invoke their Fifth Amendment rights to avoid testifying before Congress. Furthermore, if they were to provide false testimony to Congress, their pardons would not protect them from prosecution for that offense.
Journalist Matt Taibbi remarked in a recent interview, “The issue with these pardons is that they are a misstep. If you want to understand the situation, they have made it significantly easier for us to uncover the truth. Once a pardon is issued, the individual can no longer plead the Fifth. If they are summoned before a grand jury or a congressional committee, they cannot invoke their right against self-incrimination, which means they are compelled to provide testimony.”
Taibbi continued, “This is particularly intriguing because I have spoken with criminal defense attorneys, former Senate investigators, and some current Senate investigators, and they all share a similar perspective. It seems illogical to grant someone a pardon if the intention is to conceal information; the only reason for doing so would be if serious crimes are involved.”
He added, “This raises a red flag for us. When we observe someone receiving a pardon, we question the motive behind it, suspecting that there may be something significantly troubling at play. It could either be a blunder that unintentionally facilitates investigations, or there may be undisclosed information that warrants further scrutiny.” Taibbi’s views are echoed by others, including federal litigation attorney Jesse Binnall, who has noted that Biden’s pardons do not provide immunity from all potential legal repercussions.The recent pardons represent significant news. According to Binnall, no individual who has received a pardon can invoke the 5th Amendment to decline to testify in civil, criminal, or congressional proceedings.
Binnall, a former attorney for President Donald Trump, further commented on the situation, stating, “Let’s be realistic. Many of these reprehensible individuals would likely face charges in Washington, DC, a jurisdiction that tends not to convict partisan leftists.”
In response to concerns about liberal bias in DC, other users on X, including retired U.S. Army officer, lawyer, and author Kurt Schlichter, proposed a solution. Schlichter emphasized the importance of conducting depositions and testimonies outside of Washington, DC, arguing that the area is biased and unlikely to convict Democrats for perjury. He suggested, “We should take this show on the road.”
Among those pardoned on Sunday night was former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman and Army Gen. Mark Milley, who had previously criticized Trump during his first term, as well as other members of the January 6 committee. Trump specifically mentioned Biden’s pardon of Cheney while signing executive orders in the Oval Office last month.
“I intended to discuss Joe’s actions today regarding the pardons of individuals guilty of serious crimes, such as those involved in the unselect committee of political figures,” he stated to reporters, referring to the January 6 panel.
“Why are we doing this? Why are we assisting someone like Milley? Why are we supporting Liz Cheney?” he questioned. “Liz Cheney is a disaster. She’s a crying lunatic, constantly in tears.
