President Joe Biden issued historic preemptive pardons on Monday for former NIAID Director Anthony Fauci, General Mark Milley, and members of the House Jan. 6 Committee, just hours before President-elect Trump’s inauguration.

In a statement, Biden praised their service and condemned what he called politically motivated threats of prosecution against them. “These public servants have served our nation with honor and distinction,” he wrote, emphasizing their dedication to democracy and public health.

Biden highlighted General Milley’s 40 years of military service, including his leadership as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Dr. Fauci’s decades-long efforts to combat health crises, including HIV/AIDS and COVID-19. The pardons aim to protect these figures from what Biden described as unjustified legal actions.