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

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

Joe Biden in the final minutes of his presidency on Monday issued pardons to five more members of his family—his brother James and wife Sarah, his younger sister Valerie Biden Owens and husband John T. Owens, and his brother Francis Biden—after he says they were "subjected to unrelenting attacks and threats" motivated by a desire to hurt him.

President Joe Biden's last-minute clemency action helped his businessman brother James Biden and political adviser sister Valerie Biden.

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.

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

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