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

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

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.

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.

President Joe Biden on Monday issued preemptive pardons for prominent critics of President-elect Donald Trump and members of his own family, using extraordinary executive prerogative as a shield against revenge by his incoming successor.

Former president Joe Biden’s decision to issue preemptive pardons to allies and family in his final hours in office Monday

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.

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