In a move that raised eyebrows across the political spectrum, outgoing President Joe Biden issued a slew of preemptive pardons on his final day in office, covering a roster of family members and political allies. Citing concerns over what he described as “baseless and politically motivated investigations,” Biden pardoned three of his siblings, two of their spouses, and several other figures just as the clock ran out on his presidency. The announcement came mere minutes before Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th president, ensuring Biden’s exit was nothing short of dramatic.
The pardons included Biden’s brother James, James’s wife Sara, his sister Valerie, Valerie’s husband John, and another brother, Francis. The White House framed the move as a defensive measure, insisting that the pardons did not imply guilt. According to Biden, the family has been subjected to relentless partisan attacks, and these preemptive pardons were a necessary step to shield them from what he deemed an inevitable political witch hunt. Critics, however, couldn’t help but question the optics of pardoning your own family on your way out the door.
But Biden didn’t stop with family. His final acts of clemency also extended to high-profile figures such as Dr. Anthony Fauci, Gen. Mark Milley, and members of Congress who had spearheaded investigations into the January 6 Capitol riot. Throw in Gerald Lundergan, a former Kentucky Democratic Party chairman, and Ernest Cromartie, a former South Carolina councilman, and you’ve got a pardon list that reads like a who’s-who of embattled Democratic insiders. As if that weren’t enough, Biden commuted the life sentence of Leonard Peltier, convicted of killing two FBI agents in the 1970s, ensuring his legacy would be equal parts praised and criticized.
Of course, the most controversial pardon came earlier in December when Biden reversed course and extended clemency to his son, Hunter Biden. Convicted on gun charges and pleading guilty to tax crimes, Hunter had long been a lightning rod for Republican criticism and a source of unease for Democrats. Biden’s decision to pardon his son was as predictable as it was polarizing, effectively shielding Hunter from further legal consequences while fueling the narrative that the Biden family operates under its own set of rules.
In his press release, Biden didn’t mince words, painting the pardons as a stand against partisan overreach. He lamented the toll investigations take on individuals’ reputations and finances, even when no wrongdoing is proven. But for many observers, the timing and scope of these pardons left little doubt that Biden was circling the wagons on his way out. While supporters will likely tout the move as a compassionate defense of justice, detractors see it as yet another example of the elite protecting their own—a parting shot from a president who spent much of his term under fire. With the Trump administration set to usher in a new chapter, the legacy of Biden’s final acts remains as contentious as his presidency itself.
