WASHIGTON — In a surprising move just before his departure from the White House, Joe Biden granted pardons to his siblings and their spouses, expressing that his family has faced “unrelenting attacks and threats” aimed at undermining him. He referred to these actions as stemming from “the worst kind of partisan politics.”
As his presidential term drew to a close, Biden voiced concerns that these attacks might persist. This issuance of family pardons served as a noteworthy conclusion to a series of unusual executive actions he has undertaken during his leadership, consistent with his long-standing reputation as a seasoned politician. Alongside these family pardons, he also extended clemency to Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired General Mark Milley, and various participants from the House committee investigating the January 6 Capitol insurrection, all of whom have faced criticism from former President Donald Trump.
This bold use of presidential power is particularly significant since none of those pardoned had been formally charged with any offenses. The intention behind these pardons was to shield his family and associates from any potential backlash that might arise from Trump, who had suggested during his campaign that he might use the Justice Department to retaliate against those he viewed as his political opponents.
Biden’s recent actions follow a controversial pardon for his son Hunter, which came despite previous commitments against such a decision. His family pardons included those for his brother James and sister Valerie, along with their spouses, and his brother Francis. Biden clarified that these pardons should not imply any acknowledgment of wrongdoing or an admission of guilt, expressing it was a protective measure.
The pardons were issued just before noon as Biden was at the Capitol to witness Trump’s inauguration. Earlier, House Republicans had put forth a letter to the Justice Department urging the prosecution of Hunter and James Biden for allegedly making false statements during a Republican-led impeachment inquiry. However, James Biden’s legal representative labeled these claims as “baseless partisan action.” Politically charged investigations into his business dealings have been a focal point of scrutiny, although Democrats have defended his transactions by citing bank records suggesting he was merely repaying a loan from Joe Biden.
In a voluntary appearance related to the impeachment discussions, James Biden firmly stated that his brother, Joe, had “never had any involvement” in his family’s business enterprises. In the aftermath of Biden’s pardons, Trump publicly criticized the timing and nature of these actions, expressing disbelief that they were announced moments before the end of Biden’s term.
Trump, while speaking to his followers, remarked, “Did you know that Biden, while I was making my speech, pardoned his whole family? Can you imagine that?” He further claimed Biden had set an “unbelievable precedent” for future presidents with this decision, jokingly asserting that it gave him a new precedent to follow.
Historically, presidential pardons for family members have occurred, often relating to specific crimes. For instance, Bill Clinton pardoned his brother Roger following a drug conviction served about a decade prior. Similarly, during his final days in office, Trump granted clemency to Charles Kushner, father to Jared Kushner, as well as several colleagues convicted in relation to the investigation led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.