By Associated Press’s Zeke Miller and Collen Long
Washington (AP) On Monday, President Joe Biden granted his siblings and their wives a pardon, claiming that his family had endured constant threats and attacks driven only by a desire to harm him—the worst kind of political politics.
“Unfortunately,” he concluded, “I have no reason to believe that these attacks will stop.” Just before he left office, he gave a number of pardons and commutations, including for allies and advisers that Donald Trump had targeted. No one has been accused of any offenses.
He pardoned his son Hunter for tax and firearm offenses last month.
Biden pardoned his sister Valerie and her husband John Owens, his brother Francis, and his brother James and his wife Sara.
According to a statement he made, the granting of these pardons should not be interpreted as an admission of guilt for any offense or as a recognition that they committed any wrongdoing.
As Biden and others watched Trump’s inauguration at the U.S. Capitol, the pardons were announced.