Former President Joe Biden issued last-minute pardons for his family members, just moments before the swearing-in ceremony for President Donald Trump began.
Biden said his family had been “subjected to unrelenting attacks and threats, motivated solely by a desire to hurt me — the worst kind of partisan politics,” The Associated Press reported. “Unfortunately, I have no reason to believe these attacks will end,” he added.
None of those who received pardons today have been charged with crimes.
Last month Biden pardoned his son Hunter Biden. The younger Biden was convicted on tax and gun charges.
The pardons issued on Monday were for Biden’s brother James and his wife Sara, the former president’s sister Valerie and her husband John Owens and Biden’s brother Francis, the AP reported.
“The issuance of these pardons should not be mistaken as an acknowledgment that they engaged in any wrongdoing, nor should acceptance be misconstrued as an admission of guilt for any offense,” Biden wrote.
The pardons were issued after Biden had already arrived at the Capitol for the swearing-in ceremony.
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