Biden pardon shot down by his own...

One of President Joe Biden's top officials has just made it very clear that he is against the idea of preemptively pardoning so-called enemies of President-Elect Donald Trump.

The official, according to Fox News, is Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra.

One wonders whether Becerra would have voiced the same opinion if Biden was staying in the White House for another four years. We'll never know.

But, with Becerra and Biden on their way out, the HHS secretary has decided to oppose Biden on this one.

Background

There have been reports indicating that Biden is considering issuing preemptive pardons for a number of individuals, including the likes of ex-U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY), Dr. Anthony Fauci, and others.

Democrats have concocted a narrative claiming that Trump intends to use his incoming Department of Justice (DOJ) to go after people who have wronged him. Trump, for his part, has said that he has no intention of doing this. Instead, he has said that such decisions will be left completely up to his DOJ, which will be led by Pam Bondi - should the Senate approve her for the U.S. Attorney General position.

Democrats, however, do not believe Trump, and they have urged Biden to take preemptive action, by pardoning Cheney, Fauci, and others.

Thus far, Biden has not done so. But, just recently, he indicated that he is still considering it.

Fox News reports:

President Biden said he was still considering pre-emptive pardons for President-elect Donald Trump's political foes, such as former GOP Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Dr. Anthony Fauci, during his final interview with a print publication before leaving the White House.

Abuse of power

As mentioned earlier, Becerra has made it clear that he is against any such preemptive pardon.

In a recent interview with the New York Times, he said:

It sinks my heart to think that we’re going to use the pardon process in a way that will follow the whims of whoever’s in the White House. "I think we should hold that power, that only a president has, in very high regard. Because otherwise it becomes pedestrian, and it’s used anywhere, and I don’t think that should be the case.

Becerra, in the interview, refused to go into specifics.

Biden's administration is now rapidly coming to an end, as Trump is set to be inaugurated in about a week.

We'll have to see if Biden, in his remaining time, decides to pull the trigger on those preemptive pardons.