With only hours remaining in his presidency, Joe Biden issued “preemptory pardons” to Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired Army Gen. Mark Milley and “Members of Congress and staff who served on the Select Committee, and the U.S. Capitol and D.C. Metropolitan police officers who testified before the Select Committee.”
Just minutes before he left office, Biden issued pardons for his entire family. CNBC is reporting that the now-former president pardoned “his brother, James Biden; James’ wife, Sara Jones Biden; his younger sister, Valerie Biden Owens; Owens’ husband, John Owens; and his other brother, Francis Biden.”
Fox News is reporting the pardons immediately raised the ire of several critics, including U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) who declared in a posting on X, “The guy who claimed he would ‘protect norms’ continues to bulldoze them and the Constitution until the bitter end. Biden truly is one of the worst Presidents in American history and will only be remembered as the guy between Trump’s two terms.”
On social media, one man observed, “Why would it be necessary to pardon people who have not been legally charged with crimes, and whom you have claimed ad nauseum that they have done nothing wrong?”
This follows by about six weeks the president’s pardon of his son, Hunter, on federal gun convictions. It was an early Christmas present for the younger Biden by the father who many believed had counted on the election of Kamala Harris to make that call. When Harris lost, Joe Biden had no other course than to do what he had vowed not to do.
Hunter Biden was convicted earlier in 2024 of lying on a federal Form 4473 to purchase a Colt handgun at a time he was heavily using illegal drugs. He was also convicted of illegal possession of that handgun.
Biden’s pardon of the Jan. 6 committee and staff was reportedly to prevent Trump from pursuing legal action against them, the Associated Press suggested.
The Jan. 6 committee included Chairman Bennie G. Thompson · Rep. Zoe Lofgren · Rep. Adam Schiff · Rep. Pete Aguilar · Rep. Stephanie Murphy · Rep. Jamie Raskin · Rep. Elaine Luria · Rep. Liz Cheney and Rep. Kinzinger.
Fox News noted that Biden’s last-minute pardons did not include Special Counsel Jack Smith, former FBI Director Christopher Wray or Attorney General Merric Garland “despite speculation that they may face backlash from the incoming administration.”
It may have been one final of Biden’s effort to throw as many speed bumps into Trump’s pathway as possible.
