Biden issues preemptive pardons to siblings, Fauci, Jan. 6 riot committee

In the final minutes of his presidency, Joe Biden preemptively pardoned several members of his family, including his brothers James, Francis and Frank Biden, as well as his sister Valerie Biden · Owens.

In a statement issued as Donald Trump arrived at the Capitol Rotunda, Biden said the pardon was to protect his family from politically motivated attacks.

At the last minute, the United States issued another set of pardons to coronavirus response chief Anthony Fauci and members of the House inquiry into the January 6 riots to prevent what he called “unreasonable… Politically Motivated Prosecutions.”

“Our nation owes these public servants their tireless dedication,” the outgoing president said.

Trump has frequently clashed with Dr. Fauci during the pandemic and has said he would take action against those who try to hold him accountable for the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and other incidents. “The enemy from within.”

For years, Trump has leveled unsubstantiated corruption accusations against Biden and his family. In 2023, House Republicans launched a nearly year-long investigation into the Biden family, examining their overseas business dealings but found no criminal wrongdoing.

“My family has been relentlessly attacked and threatened with the sole intention of harming me,” Biden said in a statement. “Unfortunately, I have no reason to believe these attacks will end.”

In addition to his siblings, Biden also pardoned his sister-in-law, Sarah Jones Biden, and brother-in-law, John Owens.

The outgoing president previously pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, who faced sentencing in two criminal cases.

As he prepared to leave the White House, Biden also commuted the life sentence of Indigenous activist Leonard Peltier, who was serving a life sentence for the 1975 murders of two FBI agents. . Biden said in a statement that Peltier would transition to house arrest.

On Monday morning, a Trump spokesman called Biden's preemptive pardons “the greatest attack on the American justice system in history.”

Taylor Budowich, Trump’s incoming deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel, said in a post on The cronies are protected from justice.”

“This is yet another dangerous and irreversible erosion of American norms.”

Biden also issued a preemptive pardon to Mark Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who last year described Trump as a “complete fascist.”

Biden's statement said the pardons “should not be misconstrued as an admission” that any of them “committed any wrongdoing.”

Democrats warned the outgoing president against taking such action. California Sen. Adam Schiff said Biden could set a “precedent” for “every future president to grant broad pardons when he leaves office.”

Dr. Fauci told US media that he was “truly grateful” to Biden for the action he had taken, adding that the possibility of prosecution had caused “immeasurable and unbearable pain” to his family.

He added: “Let me be completely clear, I have committed no crime and there is no basis for any charges or threats of criminal investigation or prosecution against me.”

Gen. Milley, 66, thanked Biden in a statement and said he did not want to spend the rest of his life “fighting against those who may seek revenge for perceived slights.”

“I don't want to subject my family, friends and those I serve with to the distraction, expense and anxiety that this will cause,” he said.

Biden's pardon covers all members of the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 riot, as well as their staff and officials who testified.

The committee is led by Mississippi Democrat Bennie Thompson and former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, who later ran with Trump's opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris.

In December, Trump backed an FBI investigation into Cheney's role in leading congressional investigations.

But pardons do not protect officials from congressional investigations. Beneficiaries may be subject to investigations by the Republican-led Congress, requiring them to testify and provide other materials.

Former U.S. Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn said he is “eternally grateful” to Biden “not only for this preemptive pardon, but for his leadership and service to this country.”

“Unfortunately, the political climate we're in right now makes the need (for a pardon) somewhat of a reality,” he said.

“I, like every other public servant, was simply doing my job and adhering to my oath.”

Trump will pardon some people convicted of crimes related to the riots.

“You're going to see something tomorrow,” Trump said Sunday of the Jan. 6 riots. “I think you'll be very, very happy.”

On the campaign trail, Trump railed against “the enemy from within” and endorsed several figures in his cabinet who vowed to seek revenge on his enemies.

However, his choice for attorney general, Pam Bondi, said during her confirmation hearing last week that There will never be an enemy list She will not use the judiciary to target anyone based on their political views.