
In a move that has ignited political debate, outgoing President Joe Biden issued preemptive pardons to several close family members in the final moments of his presidency. The pardons, announced just before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, aim to shield the Biden family from potential investigations by the incoming administration.
The individuals granted clemency include:
- James B. Biden: The president’s younger brother.
- Sara Jones Biden: James Biden’s wife.
- Valerie Biden Owens: The president’s younger sister.
- John T. Owens: Valerie Biden Owens’ husband.
- Francis W. Biden: The president’s younger brother.
In a statement, President Biden explained his decision:
“My family has been subjected to unrelenting attacks and threats, motivated solely by a desire to hurt me – the worst kind of partisan politics. Unfortunately, I have no reason to believe these attacks will end. 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,” he said, according to The Sun.
“The issuance of these pardons should not be mistaken as an acknowledgment that they engaged in any wrongdoing, nor should acceptance be misconstrued as an admission of guilt for any offense,” he went on, according to ABC News.
The pardons come amid ongoing investigations into the Biden family’s business dealings. In 2023, James Biden was subpoenaed by the House Oversight Committee to testify regarding the family’s domestic and international business activities. The committee alleged that James Biden was involved in influence-peddling and foreign lobbying, claims he has consistently denied, according to the New York Post.
Critics argue that the pardons set a concerning precedent, suggesting that individuals may be shielded from legal scrutiny based on political considerations. Former President Donald Trump, who was inaugurated as the 47th president on January 20, 2025, criticized the pardons, labeling them as “disgraceful.”
President Biden’s decision to issue these pardons reflects the deepening political polarization in the United States. While supporters view the pardons as a necessary defense against politically motivated attacks, opponents perceive them as undermining the integrity of legal processes. As House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) said, according to the New York Post, “President Biden’s preemptive pardons for the Biden Crime Family serve as a confession of their corruption as they sold out the American people to enrich themselves…President Biden will go down as the most corrupt president in US history, and our investigation will be remembered as one of the most successful ever conducted by Congress,” he finished. As the nation transitions to a new administration, the ramifications of these pardons are likely to be a subject of ongoing debate.