In the last minutes of his mandate, Biden signs a preventive pardon for his three brothers

Chijioke Obinna

In the last minutes of his mandate, Biden signs a preventive pardon for his three brothers

The former American president, Joe Bidenhas issued in the last minutes of his presidency a decree for which he pardons preventively to his three brothers and their partnersJames B. Biden, Sara Jones Biden, Valerie Biden Owens, John T. Owens and Francis W. Biden, and commutes the sentence of indigenous activist Leonard Peltier.

“My family has been the subject of constant attacks and threats, motivated solely by the desire to harm me, an example of the worst of partisan politics. Unfortunately I have no reason to believe that these attacks will end,” Biden argues in the message. White House official reporting the pardons.

In any case, Biden emphasizes that “these pardons should not be mistakenly taken as an acknowledgment that they have done anything wrong or misinterpreted as an admission of guilt for any crime.”

Other pardons

Trump’s order also includes pardons for Democratic politician Jerry Lundergan and Ernest William Cromartie and commutes the life sentence imposed on indigenous activist Leonard Peltier “so that he serves the remainder of his sentence in home confinement.”

Peltier was sentenced to two life sentences in 1977 for the murder of two FBI agents during a shootout two years earlier inside the Pine Ridge Lakota Indian Reservation. Some 250 indigenous people died as part of a campaign of harassment against this group that began after the discovery of uranium and coal. Amnesty International considers that he is a prisoner for political reasons.

Chijioke Obinna

I've been passionate about storytelling and journalism since my early days growing up in Lagos. With a background in political science and years of experience in investigative reporting, I aim to bring nuanced perspectives to pressing global issues. Outside of writing, I enjoy exploring Nigeria’s vibrant cultural scene and mentoring young aspiring journalists.