California Democratic Senator Adam Schiff is grappling with whether to accept a pardon issued by President Joe Biden for all individuals involved in the Congressional investigation into the January 6 Capitol riot, including himself. This decision comes in the wake of potential political ramifications and a longstanding position held by Schiff, where he had previously been critical of accepting pardons as an implicit admission of guilt.

In a recent interview with NBC’s “Meet The Press,” Schiff discussed the complex situation following the issuance of the pardon, acknowledging the potential “blowback” from the decision to accept such a gesture. When asked by NBC’s Kristen Welker about the consequences of accepting a pardon, Schiff expressed his concerns, reflecting on his past comments about pardons when President Donald Trump was in office.

“I’ve always said that accepting a pardon could be viewed as an admission of guilt,” Schiff explained. “This is something I had voiced in opposition when Trump was in power. I think the same standard should apply now. If you accept a pardon, there’s a perception that you’ve done something wrong — something I strongly oppose.”

President Biden issued pardons to the members of the House Select Committee investigating the events surrounding the January 6th Capitol attack. The move followed comments from former President Donald Trump, who had threatened legal action against those involved in the investigation, even suggesting that the entire committee should face jail time. In this context, the pardon can be seen as a safeguard against any potential repercussions for those who participated in the inquiry.

Despite the high-profile nature of the investigation and the political fallout of the January 6th riot, Schiff was not the only individual to receive a pardon. Members of the committee, including Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY), and others, were granted similar clemency as part of the blanket pardon.

However, Schiff’s reluctance to accept the pardon stems from his vocal opposition to any notion of guilt. When asked by Welker whether he would accept the pardon or explore other legal avenues, Schiff responded cautiously, “We’re looking at it. I’m not sure there’s much to be done given that it went to the whole committee. This is also, I think, unprecedented.”