Outgoing US President Joe Biden is considering a preemptive pardon for prominent critics of his successor Donald Trump, multiple people familiar with the discussions said. Bi-bi-si.

That's in an effort to protect them from potential retaliation after Trump, who has vowed to retaliate against those who opposed him, takes office. CBS reports that while Biden is said to have discussed the possibility of a pardon with senior White House aides, no specific names have been officially recommended to him.

Sources told AFP that officials are also considering the message it would send by pardoning people who have committed no crimes. It comes in the wake of controversy surrounding Biden's unconditional pardon of his son Hunter, who was set to face sentencing this month on federal felony, gun and tax convictions.

Republicans and some Democrats criticized the move, which came after the president previously said he would not take such a step.

The list includes people who have criticized Trump's response to the covid crisis

US media reported that those who could be in line for potential preemptive pardons from Biden are Dr Anthony Fauci, who has been critical of Trump's response to Covid, and California Senator-elect Adam Schiff, who led the first impeachment attempt against Trump.

Other Democrats who, like Schiff, played a role in Trump's impeachment cases, or who investigated the 2021 Capitol riots, could also receive preemptive pardons.

In an interview with NPR last month, Schiff said he doesn't think a preemptive pardon is a good idea because he believes the courts are capable of withstanding threats from Donald Trump.

"I think this is so implausible as to not be worthy of much consideration," he said of reports that such pardons were being considered.

The list of names for pardons is long

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said earlier this week that more pardons could be expected from President Biden before the end of his term in January, but gave no further details.

Among those who could be granted more traditional presidential pardons for crimes committed are non-violent drug offenders or others who served time for various offenses against Trump, CBS reports.

Donald Trump is not the only person to threaten retribution against those perceived to have opposed him in the past. His nominee for FBI director, Kash Patel, has said he will go after politicians and members of the media who he claims, without evidence, helped to overturn the results of the 2020 US presidential election.

Democratic Congressman Brendan Boyle responded by saying he thought Biden should grant a blanket pardon to those targeted on what he called Donald Trump's "enemy list."

"By selecting Kash Patel as FBI director, Trump has made it clear that he is more focused on settling personal scores than protecting the American people or the rule of law," Boyle said.