Joe Biden issues sweeping pardons for entire family, Dr Fauci, Mark Milley, J6 Committee members

A new theory has emerged about Joe Biden’s “grotesque” decision to issue sweeping pardons for his entire family, minutes before leaving office.

Joe Biden has issued sweeping pre-emptive pardons for his entire family as well as former Covid adviser Dr Anthony Fauci, retired general Mark Milley and members of the January 6 Committee in a stunning final act.

The outgoing President said the extraordinary move, hours before leaving the White House, was intended to shield them from “politically motivated prosecutions” under the Trump administration.

“If you weren’t sure who the Deep State were, they all got pardoned today,” venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya reacted on X.

BREAKING: Biden has pardoned his family https://t.co/z5aF5hokY5pic.twitter.com/ExnaTzCJtl

— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) January 20, 2025

Similar condemnation poured in online.

“The guy who claimed he would ‘protect norms’ continues to bulldoze them and the Constitution until the bitter end,” Republican Senator Eric Schmitt wrote. “Biden truly is one of the worst Presidents in American history and will only be remembered as the guy between Trump’s two terms.”

Journalist Glenn Greenwald wrote, “Joe Biden using his last day in office to pardon Liz Cheney, among others, is the perfect expression of American political realignment and the rotted soul of the Democratic Party.”

Mr Biden said in a statement announcing the pardons of Dr Fauci, Mr Milley and members of the US House committee that investigated the January 6, 2021 riot at the US Capitol that “I believe in the rule of law, and I am optimistic that the strength of our legal institutions will ultimately prevail over politics”.

“But these are exceptional circumstances, and I cannot in good conscience do nothing,” he said. “These public servants have served our nation with honour and distinction and do not deserve to be the targets of unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions.”

Former US President Joe Biden. Picture: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/AFP

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Then, just minutes before Donald Trump was sworn in, Mr Biden announced he was issuing pardons to his brother James Biden, James’ wife Sara Jones Biden, his sister Valerie Biden Owens, Valerie’s husband John Owens, and his brother Francis Biden.

The “full and unconditional” pardon was for “any nonviolent offences against the United States which they may have committed or taken part in” and dated back to the start of 2014.

Commentators suggested that the main focus of Mr Biden’s family pardons was James.

“Joe Biden cast his last-minute pardons of family members merely as an effort to shield them from the retribution of Donald Trump,” wrote Politico reporter Ben Schreckinger.

“In reality, his brother, serial entrepreneur Jim Biden, had already come under scrutiny from investigators in Biden’s own Justice Department.”

The two federal criminal probes both related to James Biden’s dealings, in the years between his brother’s vice presidency and presidency, with now-bankrupt hospital operator Americore, although he has not been accused of criminal wrongdoing in those cases.

James Biden was also the subject of a more than five-year influence-peddling probe by Congressional Republicans, who accused him of lying in his testimony and had requested criminal charges.

This is despicable. Why do these people need pardons?

The Biden family racket is a reminder that Joe Biden is not the man the mainstream media pretended he is. He lied when he said he knew nothing about his family business, all the while helping his son and brother make money.… https://t.co/G72TK0eSmF

— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) January 20, 2025

“My family has been subjected to unrelenting attacks and threats, motivated solely by a desire to hurt me — the worst kind of partisan politics,” Mr Biden said. “Unfortunately, I have no reason to believe these attacks will end.”

While it was less clear why Mr Biden pardoned his other relatives, the NY Post noted Sara Biden was involved with several of her husband’s business relationships, and Frank Biden allegedly used his brother’s name in corporate dealings.

Mr Trump has repeatedly promised “retribution” against his political opponents and threatened some with criminal prosecution.

But Mr Biden’s pardons of his family have not gone down well, even with usual supporters of the former President.

“The way it was done suggests there was something wrong with doing it,” said former Obama adviser David Axelrod.

“He tried to slip it in the final minutes. It just made the whole thing look tawdry.”

Former White House press secretary and Fox News commentator Ari Fleischer branded it “despicable”.

“Why do these people need pardons?” he said.

“The Biden family racket is a reminder that Joe Biden is not the man the mainstream media pretended he is. He lied when he said he knew nothing about his family business, all the while helping his son and brother make money. Now he’s pre-emptively pardoned his family. If this isn’t the definition of a racket, what is.”

Tim Miller, an anti-Trump conservative who works for The Bulwark, simply wrote, “This is f**king grotesque.”

James Biden, centre. Picture: Mandel Ngan/AFP

Dr Fauci, who led the country’s fight against the Covid pandemic during Trump’s first term, has become a hated figure for many on the right, including Trump ally Elon Musk, who has called for the scientist to be prosecuted.

Mr Biden said Dr Fauci had served the country for more than half a century and “saved countless lives by managing the government’s response to pressing health crises, including HIV/AIDS, as well as the Ebola and Zika viruses”.

“During his tenure as my Chief Medical Advisor, he helped the country tackle a once-in-a-century pandemic,” he said. “The United States is safer and healthier because of him.”

Dr Fauci thanked Biden for the pardon, according to US media reports, but stressed “I have committed no crime”.

Donald Trump Jr. wrote on X, “He doesn’t have to accept the pardon. If he did nothing wrong be a man and turn it down … But you know he won’t because everyone knows he’s guilty of so much.”

Republican Senator Rand Paul, who repeatedly clashed with Dr Fauci during Congressional hearings, wrote that “if there was ever any doubt as to who bears responsibility for the Covid pandemic, Biden’s pardon of Fauci forever seals the deal”.

“As Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee I will not rest until the entire truth of the cover-up is exposed,” he said.

“Fauci’s pardon will only serve as an accelerant to pierce the veil of deception. Ignominious! Anthony Fauci will go down in history as the first government scientist to be pre-emptively pardoned for a crime.”

Dr Anthony Fauci testifies before Congress. Picture: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/AFP

Mr Trump was enraged after Mr Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told journalist Bob Woodward that the Republican was “fascist to the core” and a “dangerous person”.

Mr Milley also revealed he had secretly called his Chinese counterpart after the Capitol attack to reassure Beijing that the United States remained “stable” and had no intention to attack China.

Mr Trump subsequently wrote on his Truth Social network that “in times gone by, the punishment would have been DEATH!” for Mr Milley.

Mr Milley thanked Mr Biden for his executive action.

“I do not wish to spend whatever remaining time the Lord grants me fighting those who unjustly might seek retribution for perceived slights,” he said in a statement.

The members of the January 6 committee receiving pardons include former Republican congresswoman Liz Cheney, the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney and a fierce Trump critic.

Liz Cheney, centre, with January 6 Committee members. Picture: Olivier Douliery/AFP

“Rather than accept accountability, those who perpetrated the January 6th attack have taken every opportunity to undermine and intimidate those who participated in the Select Committee in an attempt to rewrite history, erase the stain of January 6th for partisan gain, and seek revenge, including by threatening criminal prosecutions,” Mr Biden said.

He added that “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 in fact have done the right thing — and will ultimately be exonerated, the mere fact of being investigated and prosecuted can irreparably damage reputations and finances,” he said.

Mr Trump has described jailed supporters who took part in the January 6 attack on the Capitol as “patriots” and “political prisoners” and said he plans to issue pardons for some of them.

Democrats and their MSM media mouthpieces had strong opinions on 'preemptive pardons' and Presidents pardoning their family members in 2020....in 2024 their strong opinions have completely changed...I know, you're shocked. LOL pic.twitter.com/YvpxtjnI0p

— Clyp Keeper (@DGrayTexas45) December 9, 2024

The Democrat added that the pardons “should not be mistaken as an acknowledgment that any individual engaged in any wrongdoing, nor should acceptance be misconstrued as an admission of guilt for any offence”.

A number of social media users highlighted past statements by January 6 Committee members including Adam Kinzinger and Adam Schiff, along with other Democrats, who had described pre-emptive pardons — in the context of Mr Trump — as evidence of guilt.

“The only reason I know to ask for a pardon is because you think you’ve committed a crime,” Mr Kinzinger said during the January 6 hearings.

Speaking to supporters after his inauguration, Mr Trump slammed the last-minute pardons while promising “action on the J6 hostages”, referring to the roughly 1600 people convicted in relation to January 6.

“Why are we helping Liz Cheney?” he said. “I mean Liz Cheney is a disaster, she’s a crying lunatic. And crying Adam Kinzinger, he’s a super cryer. I never saw the guy not cry, he’s always crying.”

Mr Trump has regularly complained of being the victim of “lawfare” under the Biden administration after being criminally prosecuted for offences, including trying to subvert the 2020 election.

Mr Biden also commuted to home confinement the life sentence of Native American activist Leonard Peltier, 80, who has been imprisoned for nearly 50 years for the 1975 murders of two FBI agents.

A number of notable people who did not receive pardons, despite speculation they may face retribution from the incoming administration, included Special Counsel Jack Smith, former FBI Director Christopher Wray and Attorney-General Merrick Garland.

Rachel Vindman, wife of Alexander Vindman, the retired US Army lieutenant colonel and whistleblower in Mr Trump’s first impeachment, whined on social media app Bluesky about being left out.

“Whatever happens to my family know this — no pardons were offered or discussed,” she said. “I cannot begin to describe the level of betrayal and hurt I feel.”

Mark Milley, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Picture: Alex Wong/Getty Images/AFP

Monday’s moves were the latest in a slew of pardons and clemencies Mr Biden has granted in his final days in office, including commuting the sentences of nearly 2500 people in one day — and the controversial pardon of his son Hunter.

The pardon of Hunter, sparing him from a possible prison sentence for federal felony gun and tax convictions, similarly dated back to 2014 but also covered any other “offences against the United States which he has committed or may have committed or taken part in during the period”.

Mr Biden had repeatedly promised not to pardon Hunter, and the move was widely criticised even by Democrats.

“Now everyone looks stupid,” Pod Save America co-host and former Obama aide Tommy Vietor said at the time.

“Everyone looks like they are full of s**t. And Republicans are going to use this to argue it was politics as usual when Democrats warned of Trump’s corruption or threat to the rule or the threat to democracy. And I think that’s the piece of this I am most frustrated with, which is Joe Biden looking like a typical, lying politician. And I think that leads to a cynical feeling that all politicians are bad. They are all the same and that this is just par for the course.”

Former President Richard Nixon received a pre-emptive pardon from his successor, Gerald Ford, after resigning in disgrace in 1974 because of the Watergate scandal.

— with AFP

Originally published as Joe Biden issues sweeping pardons for entire family, Dr Fauci, Mark Milley, J6 Committee members