Biden pardons close family members with just minutes left in his presidency as he’s slammed over ‘unprecedented’ move
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JOE Biden has pardoned his closest family members in a stunning move in his final moments as president. Biden announced the preemptive pardons for his brothers, sister, and their spouses as he attended Trump's inauguration and watched him become the 47th president of the United States.
![[Donald Trump being sworn in as US President, with Melania Trump beside him.]](https://www.the-sun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/01/donald-trump-sworn-47th-us-965290788_b1c285.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Biden pardoned his brother, James, and multiple other relatives, to guard against potential "revenge," according to a statement released during Donald Trump's second inauguration ceremony. “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 as the inauguration ceremony was underway.
![[Donald Trump and Joe Biden shaking hands at an inauguration ceremony.]](https://www.the-sun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/01/us-president-elect-donald-trump-965290514.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
"Unfortunately, I have no reason to believe these attacks will end. “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,” he said.
![[President Biden and Vice President Harris at Donald Trump's second inauguration.]](https://www.the-sun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/01/GETTY_The-Inauguration-Of-Donald-J-Trump-As-The-47th-President_NEW_GYI2194920123jpg-JS965290293.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Biden went on to say that investigations can "wreak havoc" on targeted people's safety, reputations, and finances. It comes as…. He emphasized that his family didn't do anything wrong but that he wanted to protect them from the "baseless" attacks. Just moments later, the White House's website updated to show Trump as the new president.
![[General Mark Milley at a Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting.]](https://www.the-sun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/01/GETTY_Defense-Secretary-Austin-Delivers-Opening-Remarks-For-The-Ukraine-Defense-Contract-Group-Meeti.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
