Biden pardons his family in his final minutes in office

president Joe Biden On Monday, he issued a preemptive pardon to three of his brothers and two of their spouses, citing concerns that they would be targeted by “baseless and politically motivated investigations.”

the The white house The amnesty was announced just minutes before the president was elected Donald Trump I entered the Capitol Rotunda He was sworn in as the next Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

Earlier Monday, Biden Preemptive excuse A number of other characters – incl Dr. Anthony Fauci, Gen. Mark Millie And members of Congress who investigated the matter January 6 Capitol riot -For similar reasons.

Biden’s latest batch of pardons included his brother, James Biden; James’ wife, Sarah Jones Biden; his younger sister, Valerie Biden Owens; Owens’ husband, John Owens; And his other brother, Francis Biden.

“Issuing this pardon should not be misconstrued as an admission of involvement in any wrongdoing, nor should its acceptance be misconstrued as an admission of guilt in any crime,” Biden said in a press release.

He also pardoned Gerald Lundergan, former chairman of the Kentucky Democratic Party, and former South Carolina Assemblyman Ernest Cromartie. The outgoing president also commuted the life sentence of Leonard Peltier, who was convicted of killing two FBI agents in 1975.

Biden in early December pardoned his son Hunter Bidenreversing his previous insistence that he would not do so.

Hunter was convicted last year in a federal criminal firearms trial, and has pleaded guilty to charges in a separate federal case involving tax crimes.

James Biden was interviewed last year by the House Oversight and Judiciary Committees as part of the impeachment inquiry into President Biden.

In Monday’s press release, Biden said: “My family has been subjected to sustained attacks and threats, motivated solely by the desire to hurt me — the worst kind of partisan politics. Unfortunately, I have no reason to believe these attacks will end.”

“I believe in the rule of law, and I am optimistic that the strength of our legal institutions will ultimately triumph over politics,” he said.

“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 are ultimately exonerated, simply being investigated or prosecuted can irreparably harm their families.” . reputation and finances.”

“That is why I am exercising my authority under the Constitution to pardon James P. Biden, Sarah Jones Biden, Valerie Biden Owens, John T. Owens, and Francis W. Biden,” Biden said.