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.

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.

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.

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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.

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

Biden announced the pardons in a last batch of clemency decisions just before Donald Trump took the oath of office.