Biden Issues Preemptive Pardons to Five Family Members Amid Fears of Trump Reprisals

Jan 20, 2025, 04:58 PM

In his final minutes in office, President Joe Biden issued preemptive pardons for five members of his family: James B. Biden, Sara Jones Biden, Valerie Biden Owens, John T. Owens, and Francis W. Biden. The pardons were announced just before Biden left the White House, with the stated intention of protecting his family from potential political reprisals by the incoming Trump administration. Biden emphasized that he did not believe his family had done anything wrong but was concerned about the impact of baseless and politically motivated investigations on their lives and reputations. The White House made the announcement with less than 20 minutes remaining in Biden's term, marking a significant end to his presidency.