President Biden's pardon protects Anthony Fauci, a longtime target of MAGA critics, from charges related to the contentious debate over origins of Covid or other issues.
It was just moments before Joe Biden's presidential term ended when he announced pardons for his siblings and their spouses.
Joe Biden has issued preemptive pardons to Anthony Fauci, Mark Milley and more just hours before Donald Trump's inauguration.
President Joe Biden announced a series of last-minute pardons on Sunday, granting clemency to five individuals, including a posthumous pardon for Marcus Garvey, the late civil rights leader and founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association.
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.
In his final hours in office, Mr Biden cleared the names of a swathe of Trump critics to protect them from any potential ‘revenge’
The decision comes after Trump warned of an enemies list of those who have crossed him politically or sought to hold him accountable for his attempt to overturn his 2020 election loss.
President Biden issued pre-emptive pardons for Dr. Anthony Fauci and others who may have faced scrutiny under the incoming Donald Trump administration.
WASHINGTON—President Biden issued pre-emptive pardons for officials who have clashed with President-elect Donald Trump, using his final hours in the White House to help people he fears could face retribution by the incoming administration.