President Biden’s recent pardons may have unintentionally placed recipients like Dr. Anthony Fauci and Liz Cheney under increased legal pressure.
Pardoned individuals can no longer invoke the Fifth Amendment, meaning they must testify if subpoenaed and face prosecution if they lie under oath.
Journalist Matt Taibbi called the move a major mistake, noting it makes uncovering the truth easier. He and legal experts suggest the pardons may imply serious wrongdoing rather than protection.
Federal attorney Jesse Binnall stressed that pardons don’t protect against perjury. Critics argue the pardons raise red flags and question the motivations behind them.
Binnall and others on X voiced concern about Washington, DC’s perceived bias, advocating for testimonies to take place elsewhere.
Among those pardoned were General Mark Milley and members of the January 6 committee, drawing sharp criticism from Donald Trump, who questioned why such figures were pardoned.