Reports saying that former Jan. 6 House select committee members are asking outgoing President Joe Biden for preemptive pardons indicates they have good reason to be concerned, House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., told Newsmax on Thursday.
Comer joined “Carl Higbie FRONTLINE” to discuss a Tuesday report that former Jan. 6 Chair Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., is among leading panel members fearing accountability from President-elect Donald Trump, who has been talking about criminal destruction of evidence and witness tampering by committee members.
“Well, it looks like they weren't truthful. That should surprise no one,” Comer said. “Anything that [Democrat Rep.] Jamie Raskin has a part of is always going to be filled with fiction. And, you know, obviously they’re going to Joe Biden asking for a pardon. If they didn't feel they had some type of guilt or liability, they wouldn't be going to Joe Biden asking for a pardon.”
Now the speculation centers on whether Biden will issue pardons before leaving office on Monday.
“And, you know, we'll see what Joe Biden does. We know that he's already abused the pardon process with his own family,” Comer said, referring to blanket pardons given to first son Hunter Biden for a 10-year period.
“I think he's going to continue to abuse the pardon process over the next three or four days. So nothing would surprise me with respect to what Joe Biden would do,” Comer told Higbie.
“But, you know, they're probably winking and nodding at the president right now, saying, ‘We tried to take your enemy out. We tried to get him knocked off the ballot. We did everything you asked us to, and now he's gonna come after us. You gotta help us.’ That's probably what's taking place,” he added.
About NEWSMAX TV:
NEWSMAX is the fastest-growing cable news channel in America!
- Find Newsmax channel in your home via cable and satellite systems – More Info Here
- Watch Newsmax+ on your home TV app or smartphone and watch it anywhere! Try it for FREE – See More Here: NewsmaxPlus.com
Mark Swanson ✉
Mark Swanson, a Newsmax writer and editor, has nearly three decades of experience covering news, culture and politics.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.