In a surprising conclusion to his presidential term, Joe Biden granted pardons to his siblings and their spouses, stating on Monday that his family has faced “relentless attacks and threats” aimed primarily at undermining his presidency, which he labeled as the worst form of partisan politics. He expressed skepticism that these onslaughts would cease anytime soon as he wrapped up his tenure in the White House.
The pardons were an unexpected highlight in a series of significant actions taken by the Democrat, revered for his long-standing political career spanning nearly fifty years. In addition to his family members, Biden also issued pardons for notable figures including Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired General Mark Milley, and members of the House committee investigating the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol, alongside various allies targeted by former President Donald Trump. Biden was inaugurated on the same day he announced these pardons.
This notable exercise of presidential power was unusual because none of the individuals who received pardons had faced any criminal charges. It appeared to serve as a preemptive measure against any vengeance that might be pursued by Trump, who has hinted at using the Justice Department to retaliate against his political adversaries. During her recent confirmation hearing, Trump’s attorney general nominee, Pam Bondi, did not rule out possible investigations targeting Trump’s opponents but maintained that the department would not pursue politically motivated prosecutions.
Just last month, Biden had granted a pardon to his son Hunter for tax and gun-related offenses, going back on his earlier declarations that he would not intervene in such cases. The pardons issued on Monday covered James Biden, his wife Sara, his sister Valerie and her husband John Owens, along with his brother Francis. Biden made it clear that the issuance of these pardons should not be construed as an admission of guilt or wrongdoing by those involved.
The pardons were issued shortly before noon, coinciding with Biden attending Trump’s inauguration at the Capitol. In June, House Republicans sent a correspondence to the Justice Department recommending charges against Hunter and James Biden, accusing them of providing false statements during a Republican-led impeachment inquiry. James Biden’s attorney labeled this move a “baseless partisan action.” Scrutiny over James Biden’s business dealings was intensified by Republicans in their impeachment efforts, who alleged that the president benefited from his brother’s financial endeavors.
Defending the transactions, House Democrats highlighted bank records suggesting that any payments made were actually repayment of a loan from Joe Biden to James, which had occurred while Joe was a private citizen. During a voluntary interview regarding the impeachment investigation, James Biden asserted that his brother had no involvement in the business affairs of their family members.
Although there is a history of presidents pardoning family members, these instances typically relate to specific criminal convictions. For example, Bill Clinton pardoned his brother Roger for past drug offenses after a decade had elapsed since his sentence. In the closing weeks of his first term, Trump granted clemency to his son-in-law Jared Kushner’s father, Charles Kushner, alongside several allies convicted in special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe into Russian interference.
