President Joe Biden On Monday, he granted preemptive pardons to three of his siblings and their two spouses, citing concerns they would be targets of “baseless and politically motivated investigations.”
this White House Pardon announced minutes before President-elect Donald Trump Entering the Capitol Rotunda Sworn in as next Commander-in-Chief.
Earlier Monday, Biden preemptive pardon Some other figures – including Dr. Anthony Fauci, Gen. Mark Milley and members of Congress investigating the matter. Capitol riots on January 6 — on similar grounds.
Biden’s final batch of pardons included his brother, James Biden; James’ wife, Sarah Jones Biden; his sister, Valerie Biden Owens; Owens’ husband, John Owens; Another brother, Francis Biden.
“The issuance of the pardon should not be misconstrued as an admission that they committed any wrongdoing, nor should they be misconstrued as an admission of guilt of any crime,” Biden said in a statement.
He also pardoned former Kentucky Democratic Party Chairman Gerald Lundegan and former South Carolina congressman Ernest Cromartie. The outgoing president also commuted the life sentence of Leonard Peltier, who was convicted of the 1975 killings of two FBI agents.
Biden pardoned his son in early December Hunter Bidenreversing his previous attitude of insisting that he would not do so.
Hunter, who was convicted last year in a federal criminal firearms trial, pleaded guilty to charges in a separate federal case related to tax crimes.
James Biden was interviewed by the House Oversight and Judiciary Committee last year as part of the impeachment inquiry into President Biden.
“My family has been relentlessly attacked and threatened with the sole intention of harming me — partisan politics at its worst,” Biden said in a press release on Monday. “Unfortunately, I have no reason to believe these attacks will end.”
“I believe in the rule of law, and I am optimistic that the power of our legal institutions will ultimately prevail over politics,” he said.
“But baseless and politically motivated investigations can wreak havoc on the lives, safety and financial security of targeted individuals and their families. Even if an individual did nothing wrong and is ultimately exonerated, simply being investigated or prosecuted One fact can cause irreparable damage to their lives.
“That is why I have exercised my authority under the Constitution to pardon James B. Biden, Sarah Jones Biden, Valerie Biden Owens, John T. Owens and Frances W. Biden.
After Biden announced the pardons for Fauci, Milley and committee members on January 6, Trump lashed out, calling the move “disgraceful.”
“Many people committed great crimes! DJT,” Trump told NBC News’ Kristen Welker in a text message. Trump’s White House press office did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment on Biden’s subsequent pardons for his family.
While Biden’s package of preemptive pardons breaks historical norms, it is common for presidents to issue pardons at the 11th hour. There is also precedent for presidential pardons of family members and persons related to family members.
On his last day in office, President Bill Clinton pardoned his half-brother Roger Clinton, who had pleaded guilty to drug charges.
Trump pardoned Charles Kushner, the father of son-in-law Jared Kushner, at the end of his first term.
Charles Kushner pleaded guilty in 2004 to filing false tax returns, retaliating against a witness and making false statements to the Federal Election Commission.
