In a controversial move just minutes before leaving office, President Joe Biden issued blanket pardons for his siblings and their spouses, effectively halting ongoing investigations into the family’s alleged influence-peddling activities.
Breaking: With just minutes left in his presidency, Biden issues “a full and unconditional pardon” of his family, most notably his brother James B. Biden. pic.twitter.com/ZdRsGjPb4B
— Philip Melanchthon Wegmann (@PhilipWegmann) January 20, 2025
Pardoned Individuals:
- James Biden: The President’s brother, previously subpoenaed by Congressional Republicans in 2023 for his involvement in the family’s domestic and foreign business dealings. Accusations included lying to Congress and potential unregistered foreign lobbying.
- Sara Jones Biden: Wife of James Biden, involved in some of her husband’s business relationships.
- Valerie Biden Owens: The President’s sister, who has played substantial roles in his political campaigns and served in various capacities within organizations linked to the Biden family.
- John Owens: Husband of Valerie Biden Owens.
- Francis W. Biden: The President’s brother, allegedly involved in using the Biden name in business dealings.
These pardons follow the President’s earlier decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden, for tax and gun-related offenses, despite prior assurances that he would allow justice to proceed without executive intervention.
In his statement, President Biden emphasized that the pardons should not be interpreted as admissions of guilt, asserting that his family had been subjected to “unrelenting attacks and threats, motivated solely by a desire to hurt me—the worst kind of partisan politics.”
Critics argue that these preemptive pardons undermine the integrity of ongoing investigations and set a concerning precedent for the use of executive clemency to shield family members from legal scrutiny. As the new administration takes office, questions remain about the implications of these actions on public trust and the accountability of public officials.