Biden pardons brother Jim, sister Valerie, other family members
By Nolan Mckendry
The Center Square
President Joe Biden issued preemptive pardons to five members of his family, citing concerns over what he called potential politically motivated investigations from his successor, President Donald J. Trump. In his last statement as president, Biden addressed the rationale behind the sweeping pardons.
“My family has been subjected to unrelenting attacks and threats, motivated solely by a desire to hurt me – the worst kind of partisan politics,” Biden said. “Unfortunately, I have no reason to believe these attacks will end.”
The pardons covered Biden’s brother James and his wife, Sara; his sister, Valerie, and her husband, John Owens; as well as his brother Francis. The action came on the heels of a controversial pardon last month for his son, Hunter Biden, who had faced tax and gun crime charges. These decisions marked a striking departure for a president known for his institutionalist approach during a half-century in politics.
Critics were quick to pounce. Republican lawmakers, who frequently referred to Biden’s family as the “Biden crime family,” framed the pardons as the culmination of a long-running effort to shield family members from accountability.
The House Oversight Committee, led by Chairman James Comer, has been investigating the Bidens’ domestic and international business dealings. In a statement on its official website, the committee alleged a pattern of influence-peddling by the Biden family, claiming their financial dealings “compromised U.S. national security” and cast doubt on Biden’s impartiality as president.
“Evidence obtained by Committee Republicans reveals Joe Biden lied to the American people about his involvement in his family’s business schemes,” the site reads. “If President Biden is compromised by deals with foreign adversaries and they are impacting his decision-making, this is a threat to national security.”
The sweeping pardons, which also included former White House officials such as Dr. Anthony Fauci and retired Gen. Mark Milley, were seen by Biden as a safeguard against a charged political environment. However, critics like Comer labeled them as a deliberate obstruction to ongoing investigations.
Comer lambasted the move following the release of Special Counsel David Weiss’ incomplete report on Hunter Biden’s activities. “This sweeping pardon prevents the Special Counsel from holding Hunter Biden accountable for the international influence-peddling racket only made possible by Joe Biden,” Comer said, adding that the Justice Department had never intended to prosecute the family fully.
House Republicans have promised to press forward with their inquiries into the Bidens’ financial dealings. U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik described the situation as a “landmark political corruption scandal” and criticized federal agencies for “playing cover-up” to protect Biden.
House Republicans also unveiled an impeachment inquiry website, promising a detailed timeline of alleged corruption and updates on their findings.
The pardons, while legally sound, have raised significant ethical questions and set a contentious tone for the incoming administration. Trump and his allies are expected to leverage the issue to bolster their narrative against Biden and the Democratic Party. Meanwhile, the American public remains sharply divided, with ongoing investigations poised to dominate the political landscape for months to come.