Washington: In the closing minutes of his presidency, Joe Biden issued pardons for five members of his family, citing a desire to protect them from anticipated political attacks under the incoming administration of Donald J. Trump.
In his final statement as president, Biden addressed the decision, emphasizing that the pardons were not an admission of wrongdoing but a defensive measure.
“My family has been subjected to unrelenting attacks and threats, motivated solely by a desire to hurt me — the worst kind of partisan politics, ” Biden stated. “Unfortunately, I have no reason to believe these attacks will end.”
The pardons were granted to James B. Biden, his brother; Sara Jones Biden, James’s wife; Valerie Biden Owens, his sister; John T. Owens, Valerie’s husband; and Francis W. Biden, another of Biden’s brothers.
The White House announced the pardons with just 20 minutes remaining in Biden’s presidency. Shortly after the announcement, Biden departed the Capitol Rotunda, where he had attended the swearing-in ceremony for President Trump, marking his final moments in office.
The decision, unprecedented in its timing and scope, is likely to spark political debate, further highlighting the partisan tensions that characterized Biden’s final days in the White House.