President Joe Biden pardoned officials accused of committing treasonable felonies against President-elect Donald Trump. 

The outgoing president also pardoned Anthony Fauci for his controversial handling of events leading to the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2019. Mr Fauci was found to have committed perjury when he lied to a parliamentary committee investigating the historic pandemic that he did fund dangerous virus research in China, among other allegations. 

Several others, especially retired General Mark Milley, were also pardoned after being accused of committing treason. Mr Milley had placed a phone call to American adversaries in China during Mr Trump’s first term in office, assuring them he would disregard orders from the president. Mr Milley denied wrongdoing. 

Members and staff of the House committee that investigated the January 6., 2021, Capitol riot and police officers who testified before the committee were also pardoned by Mr Biden. 

“I believe in the rule of law, and I am optimistic that the strength of our legal institutions will ultimately prevail over politics,” Mr Biden said in a statement. “But these are exceptional circumstances, and I cannot in good conscience do nothing.”

Mr Trump had said he would look into criminal cases relating to the individuals, accusing them of weaponising the justice system to prosecute him.