FORMER President Joe Biden has issued blanket pardons for several of his family members in the final minutes of his presidency.
Biden pardoned his siblings just minutes before President Donald Trump was sworn back into office on Monday.
The White House announced that the pardon applies to James Biden, Sara Jones Biden, Valerie Biden Owens, John Owens, and Francis Biden.
Biden argues that his family could be subject to “politically motivated investigations” after he leaves office.
“I believe in the rule of law, and I am optimistic that the strength of our legal institutions will ultimately prevail over politics,” the ex-president said in a statement.
“But baseless and politically motivated investigations wreak havoc on the lives, safety, and financial security of targeted individuals and their families.”
“Even when individuals have done nothing wrong and will ultimately be exonerated, the mere fact of being investigated or prosecuted can irreparably damage their reputations and finances,” Biden added.
The pardons come after House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer requested that Trump’s Justice Department investigate and prosecute James Biden for allegedly making false statements to Congress.
House Republicans in June sent criminal referrals for James Biden and Hunter Biden to the Justice Department recommending they be charged with making false statements to Congress about “key aspects” of the impeachment inquiry of President Biden.
Biden issued another wave of last-minute pre-emptive pardons earlier Monday morning.
Those pardons give immunity to Dr. Anthony Fauci, Gen. Mark Milley, former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY), and others associated with the Democrats’ anti-Trump January 6 “investigation.”
Biden had teased the possibility of issuing pre-emptive pardons weeks ago in an interview with USA Today.
The pardons at the end of his term have proven to be some of his most controversial actions as president.
His son Hunter Biden’s pardon has provoked widespread criticism from all sides.
Biden had repeatedly vowed that he would not intervene on his son’s behalf.
However, once the election was out of the way, he issued a blanket pardon regardless.
Biden later claimed that he had broken the promise after finding out Hunter had paid his back taxes.
Biden’s pardon of Hunter was defended in some corners as a natural move from someone protecting his own family.
Nevertheless, many prominent figures derided it as a craven flip-flop that would damage the White House and the former president’s legacy.
“Everyone looks stupid,” Pod Save America co-host and ex-Obama aide Tommy Vietor said at the time.
“Everyone looks like they are full of s—.
“And Republicans are going to use this to argue it was politics as usual when Democrats warned of Trump’s corruption or threat to the rule or the threat to democracy.”
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