Biden announces blanket pardon for his brother James, burying family influence-peddling probe for good
WASHINGTON — President Biden issued a pardon Monday for his brother James Biden, effectively burying the final details of a more than five-year probe into the first family’s influence peddling to save them from possible repercussions under the incoming Trump administration.Congressional Republicans subpoenaed James Biden, 75, along with first son Hunter Biden, 54, in 2023 to investigate their involvement in the family’s domestic and foreign business dealings — after evidence emerged that both men repeatedly involved Joe Biden in their lucrative relationships.Republicans accused James of lying to Congress and requested criminal charges.
They also suggested his dealings may have amounts to unregistered foreign lobbying, another crime.“My family has been subjected to unrelenting attacks and threats, motivated solely by a desire to hurt me—the worst kind of partisan politics. Unfortunately, I have no reason to believe these attacks will end,” the outgoing president said in a statement minutes before leaving office. “I believe in the rule of law, and I am optimistic that the strength of our legal institutions will ultimately prevail over politics. But baseless and politically motivated investigations wreak havoc on the lives, safety, and financial security of targeted individuals and their families. Even when individuals have done nothing wrong and will ultimately be exonerated, the mere fact of being investigated or prosecuted can irreparably damage their reputations and finances.” Biden added: “That is why I am exercising my power under the Constitution to pardon James B.Biden, Sara Jones Biden, Valerie Biden Owens, John T.
Owens, and Francis W.Biden. 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.”The president on Dec.
1 issued an unprecedented pardon spanning 11 years his son — with the clemenc...