President Joe Biden of the United States is considering whether to issue blanket pardons for current and former public officials who risk being targeted by President-elect Mr Donald Trump’s incoming administration.

The president has discussed the preemptive measure against potential revenge attacks with senior aides, but no decisions have yet been taken.

The discussion picked up steam after Mr Trump tapped Kash Patel, who has promised retribution against critics of the president-elect, for the role of FBI director, the notion gaining further currency when Biden pardoned his son, Hunter Biden.