Before leaving office, President Joe Biden issued last-minute pardons to high-profile figures like Liz Cheney and Dr. Anthony Fauci, aiming to protect them from potential retribution under the incoming Trump administration. These pardons shielded them from prosecution but did not prevent them from being subpoenaed for testimony in ongoing investigations. Legal experts pointed out that those pardoned could still be compelled to testify in congressional hearings without the ability to invoke the 5th Amendment to avoid self-incrimination. Republicans, including Representatives Jim Jordan and James Comer, might use subpoenas to question individuals like Cheney and Fauci about their roles in various political matters, such as the January 6th committee and the pandemic response. Critics argue that accepting a pardon could imply guilt, despite legal protections. Biden defended the pardons as a safeguard against politically motivated investigations, emphasizing the need to protect reputations from baseless probes.