Accountability

Jacob Sullum | 12.31.2025 12:01 AM

On his way out the door last January, President Joe Biden issued broad, preemptive pardons for several relatives and political allies. Those stay-out-jail cards set an alarming precedent that could undermine the accountability of government officials by encouraging future presidents to shield underlings from prosecution for criminal conduct.

Although Biden made that reckless decision, he blamed Donald Trump, saying he had to act given the danger that the incoming president would pursue politically motivated prosecutions. That excuse was one of the year's most memorable attempts to dodge responsibility. Here are some more highlights.

Throughout the year, Trump blamed his legal losses on "Radical Left" judges who supposedly were determined to obstruct his agenda for political reasons, even when the judges who ruled against him were appointed by Trump himself or

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