President Joe Biden issued pardons to several close family members Monday in the final minutes of his presidency.

Mr. Biden emphasized that he did not believe his family did anything wrong, but he feared political attacks by Donald J. Trump.

Former president Joe Biden’s decision to issue preemptive pardons to allies and family in his final hours in office Monday

In his last day as president, Joe Biden pardoned five members of his extended family, including his two brothers, James Biden and Francis Biden, and his sister Valerie Biden Owens. He also issued pardons to former White House medical adviser Anthony Fauci, who helped coordinate the nation’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Former President Joe Biden s decision to extend pardons to multiple family members just before the close of his presidency drew swift backlash from political opponents, including his successor

Just minutes before he left office, Joe Biden announced a set of sweeping pre-emptive pardons for members of his family, including his two brothers and his sister, after some on the right suggested they should face prosecution.

Biden Monday issued several preemptive pardons, some to family members. Following the transition of power, Trump wielded his own clemency power.

Watch as President Trump is sworn in to serve as the 47th president as he takes the presidential oath administered by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. President Donald Trump criticized his predecessor’s preemptive pardons to the Jan.

President Joe Biden pardoned his brother James and other relatives for unspecified crimes, to protect them from Trump administration investigations.