Joe Biden preemptively pardons Anthony Fauci, Mark Milley to protect against 'politically motivated prosecutions'

In an extraordinary move during his last hours in the White House, Biden gave similar pardons to members, staff and witnesses of a US House committee who were entrusted with the probe of the violent January 6, 2021, US Capitol attack by Donald Trump's supporters.

"These public servants have served our nation with honor and distinction and do not deserve to be the targets of unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions," Biden said in a statement.

"These are exceptional circumstances, and I cannot in good conscience do nothing," he said.

Trump, who will be sworn in on Monday, has promised "retribution" against his political opponents and threatened some with criminal prosecution.

Fauci, who became the face of the country's fight against the Covid pandemic, encountered the wrath of the Republicans due to his straight-talking takes on the disease in Trump's first term.

Meanwhile, Milley, who was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during Trump's first term, told journalist Bob Woodward that Trump was "fascist to the core" and "the most dangerous person to this country."

He revealed that he had secretly called his Chinese counterpart after the Capitol attack to reassure Beijing that the United States remained "stable" and had no intention to attack China.

Trump subsequently wrote on his Truth Social network that "in times gone by, the punishment would have been DEATH!" for Milley.

The members of the January 6 committee meanwhile include fierce Trump critic and former Republican congresswoman Liz Cheney, the daughter of former vice-president Dick Cheney.

"Baseless and politically motivated investigations wreak havoc on the lives, safety, and financial security of targeted individuals and their families," wrote Biden.

The Democrat added that the 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."

Donald Trump is set to return to the White House as the 47th President of the United States after a historic victory in elections conducted in November last year.