
As his presidency drew to a close, Joe Biden issued controversial pardons to members of his family and close political allies, a move that drew sharp criticism from his successor, President Donald Trump. Speaking from the Oval Office on Monday night, Trump took aim at Biden’s actions, suggesting the pardons cast doubt on the integrity of the outgoing administration. “I was surprised that President Biden would go and pardon his whole family because that makes him look very guilty,” Trump remarked.
The pardons issued by Biden included his brother James Biden and James’ wife, Sara Jones Biden, along with his sister Valerie Biden Owens and her husband, John T. Owens. Biden also pardoned his brother Francis W. Biden. In a statement, Biden defended his decision, stating that his family had been subjected to politically motivated investigations that threatened their safety and financial security. “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, asserting that the pardons were not an admission of wrongdoing.
President Trump: “I was surprised that President Biden would go and pardon his own family because that makes him look very guilty.” pic.twitter.com/S4jQRu2Lwo
— Conservative War Machine (@WarMachineRR) January 21, 2025
Biden’s statement emphasized his belief in the rule of law while criticizing the toll that investigations take on individuals and their families. “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,” he added.
Trump, however, painted a starkly different picture, using Biden’s actions to highlight his own restraint in not pardoning family members during his previous term. “I could have pardoned my family, I could have pardoned myself, but I said if I do that, it’s going to make me look very guilty,” Trump stated. He suggested that his decision not to issue pardons for his family contributed to his return to the White House. “I don’t think I’d be sitting here right now because it would’ve shown that you’re guilty,” he said.
Biden also granted last-minute clemency to high-profile figures such as Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired U.S. Army General Mark Milley, and members of the Democrat-led January 6 committee. The timing of these pardons, just hours before President-elect Trump’s inauguration, has fueled further criticism from Republicans who question the ethical implications of these actions.