That Biden felt it necessary to pre-emptively pardon his family members and political allies belies attempts by Democrats to claim that “democracy” has been affirmed by the peaceful transfer of power to Trump.

By Doina Chiacu, Jeff Mason, Nandita Bose and Phil Stewart WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Outgoing President Joe Biden issued preemptive pardons on Monday for several of his immediate family members and people that incoming President Donald Trump has targeted for retaliation,

In the final minutes of his presidency, Joe Biden pre-emptively pardoned several family members, including his brothers James and Frank Biden, and sister Valerie Biden Owens. Biden said the pardons were intended to shield his family from politically motivated attacks and should not be mistaken as an acknowledgment of any wrongdoing.

U.S. President Joe Biden’s eleventh-hour action to free Leonard Peltier grants the internationally acclaimed political prisoner a chance to return to his North Dakota homelands

President Biden issued pre-emptive pardons for officials who have clashed with President-elect Donald Trump and for members of his family, including his three siblings, using his final hours in the White House to help people he fears could face retribution by the incoming administration.

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.

US President Joe Biden issued preemptive pardons on Monday (US time) for people his successor Donald Trump has targeted for retaliation, including Republican former lawmaker Liz Cheney, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley, and Anthony Fauci, who served as White House chief medical advisor.

Biden issued the sweeping pardons just minutes before he departed the White House for the final time as president

Trump vowed to press the Justice Department to prosecute people he considered to be part of a political opposition.

The extraordinary actions by the outgoing president reflect America’s tensions as a successor takes office who has said his opponents should be jailed.