In his final moments in office, US President Joe Biden issued pre-emptive pardons for his brothers, sister, and other relatives to shield them from possible prosecutions under the incoming administration of Donald Trump.
Their pardons came on top of a pardon he granted his son Hunter last month.
On his last day in office on Monday, he also issued a list of pardons including to Anthony Fauci, who led the campaign against the Covid pandemic, and others who might become targets of prosecutions. Unlike Biden's son Hunter, who had been convicted of gun charges and was awaiting prosecution on tax evasion charges, his other relatives have not been charged.
In announcing the pardons, Biden stated, "My family has been subjected to relentless attacks and threats motivated by a singular goal: to harm me, in the worst sort of partisan politics."
He went on to say, "Unfortunately, I have no reason to believe that these attacks will end."
The even worse is, as he said even "when individuals have done nothing wrong—and in fact have done the right thing—and will ultimately be exonerated, the mere fact of being investigated or prosecuted can irreparably damage reputations and finances,"
he said.
House Republicans recently interviewed James Biden in preparation for impeaching his brother.
They said they were investigating whether James Biden profited financially in overseas business dealings due to his brother's influence.
Monday's sweeping pre-emptive pardons also included former Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley, and the members and staff of the Congressional committee that investigated the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
Trump had singled out some of them personally, and others as a group during his campaign for President.
He will also issue his own list of pardons once he becomes president.
During his campaign, he said he would pardon those found or on trial for their roles in the January 6 riots.
It is at the discretion of the persons Biden pardoned whether to accept or to reject the reprieve and some may decline them because receiving the pardon may be considered an admission of the offense.
Fauci, who stood by Trump's side during the pandemic, providing updates and guiding action, said, "Let me be perfectly clear: I have committed no crime and there are no possible grounds for any allegation or threat of criminal investigation or prosecution of me."
But, he said, "the mere articulation of these baseless threats, and the potential that they will be acted upon, create immeasurable and intolerable distress for me and my family.
Trump broke with Fauci under pressure from an extreme right wing of his base that opposed the lockdowns and the vaccine mandates and Trump accused him of misleading the nation and cast his research institution's scientific cooperation with Chinese counterparts in a sinister light.
Trump said that Milley should be "executed" for speaking to the Chinese military chief after the January 6 episode.
The General had reportedly warned China against exploiting it.
The pardons also included Liz Cheney, the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney. She broke ranks with Trump based on his role in the riots and his character. She was the only Republican lawmaker to serve on the panel investigating the attack.
He also pardoned police officers who participated in enforcing law on January 6 and were called to testify before the Congressional panel.
Trump had earlier pardoned his son Hunter who was facing sentencing after conviction on gun charges and trial on tax evasion charges.
He also pardoned about 2,500 people convicted of drug charges.
The relatives getting his clemency were brother James Biden and his wife Sara Jones Biden, another brother, Francis Biden, and sister Valerie Biden Owens and her husband John Owens.
He was keeping with his personal belief against the death penalty. He commuted those from federal death row.
In December, Biden issued pardons for around 1,500 individuals convicted of non-violent offences and they included four Indian Americans.
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