Part 3/8:

Less than four years ago, discussions regarding preemptive pardons were framed as a dangerous precedent, particularly concerning Trump. The media routinely reminded the public that the integrity of the justice system depended on the notion that “no one is above the law.” Thus, it appears contradictory that Biden's actions sparked little outrage from the same quarters that once decried similar pardons by Trump.

Biden’s rationale included remarks claiming that the pardons were not admissions of guilt, a statement that echoes longstanding legal ambiguities surrounding the acceptance of pardons. Historically, acceptance can imply an acceptance of guilt, complicating the narrative constructed by the Biden administration that these actions were simply about safeguarding democracy.