As former President Joe Biden extended preemptive pardons to his family, cabinet members, and other allies, he neglected to pardon Alexander Vindman, a staffer at the National Security Council, who launched an impeachment attempt against President Donald Trump in 2019. In the wake of the news, some have suggested that this leaves Vindman vulnerable to prosecution under the incoming administration.
As background, Vindman listened to a phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in 2019. He later came forward claiming that Trump attempted to withhold military aid from Ukraine in exchange for incriminating information on Hunter Biden, who was known to have business activity in the region.
Vindman was the star witness in the House impeachment hearings led by then-House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-CA). However, the Senate eventually acquitted Trump after the House voted to impeach him. Vindman, a retired lieutenant colonel, is a Ukrainian immigrant who unsurprisingly supports extending military aid to his home country.
Rachel Vindman, the staffer’s wife, took to Blue Sky to complain about President Biden refusing to grant her husband a pardon as numerous other individuals had been granted legal immunity. She wrote, “Whatever happens to my family, know this: No pardons were offered or discussed. I cannot begin to describe the level of betrayal and hurt I feel.”
Rachel’s comment raised eyebrows, leading some to question why Vindman would require a pardon in the first place. Libs of TikTok weighed in, “Wife of Alexander Vindman, the Democrats’ star witness for Trump’s impeachment, says her family wasn’t offered any pardons and she’s very hurt. Is there something her family would need a pardon for….? 
The Trump admin should look into this.”
Furthermore, others questioned why a pardon would be expected. “”Betrayed” was she told she would be pardoned for the crimes they had her commit on the stand? “Don’t worry we will pardon you” no pardon comes, now she feels betrayed. I would feel betrayed too if i was paid to commit treason by people who promised to pardon me but didn’t,” another comment read.
On the morning of Trump’s inauguration, The American Tribune reported on former President Biden’s outgoing move to pardon top Democratic political figures in the final hours of his presidency. The preemptive pardons were given to figures such as Dr. Fauci, Gen. Mark Milley, and Liz Cheney, along with the rest of the J6 Committee.
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Biden said, “I believe in the rule of law, and I am optimistic that the strength of our legal institutions will ultimately prevail over politics. But these are exceptional circumstances, and I cannot in good conscience do nothing. Baseless and politically motivated investigations wreak havoc on the lives, safety, and financial security of targeted individuals and their families. Even when individuals have done nothing wrong-and in fact have done the right thing-and will ultimately be exonerated, the mere fact of being investigated or prosecuted can irreparably damage reputations and finances.”
The former president concluded, “That is why I am exercising my authority under the Constitution to pardon General Mark A. Milley, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the Members of Congress and staff who served on the Select Committee, and the U.S. Capitol and D.C. Metropolitan police officers who testified before the Select Committee. The issuance of these pardons should not be mistaken as an acknowledgment that any individual engaged in any wrongdoing, nor should acceptance be misconstrued as an admission of guilt for any offense. Our nation owes these public servants a debt of gratitude for their tireless commitment to our country.”
Watch Trump address the J6 Committee here:
Featured image credit: United States House of Representatives – Office of Terri Sewell, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jennifer_Williams_and_Alexander_Vindman_-_Dec_19_19.jpg