Biden preemptively pardons siblings, commutes killer’s sentence

President Joe Biden on Monday issued more preemptive presidential pardons to his immediate family members during the final hour of his presidency. Biden pardoned his two brothers and sister, along with two of their spouses. The move comes weeks after he issued a similar pardon to his son, Hunter, despite previous pledges not to do so. Biden aimed to protect his family from the partisan attacks expected to continue even after leaving office, according to the Associated Press, citing a White House statement that appears to have since been taken down. The now-previous administration released the final pardons after Biden and his wife arrived at President Donald Trump’s inauguration inside the Capitol.

Didn’t the statement include a sentence commutation? Biden also commuted the life sentence of Leonard Peltier, a Native American activist convicted of murdering two FBI agents in 1975. The 80-year-old suffers from severe health conditions and will serve the remainder of his sentence at home, the White House said. South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley issued a statement Monday condemning the decision, pointing out that 22 federal judges have previously reviewed and upheld Peltier’s conviction.

Dig deeper: Read Lauren Canterberry’s report for more about Biden’s preemptive pardons to Anthony Fauci and Jan. 6 investigators.