Speaker of the House Mike Johnson says former President Joe Biden’s last-minute pardons of his family members were “shocking” and “disgusting.”
“It was shocking. I mean, it was shocking what President Biden did on his way out, absolving his family of over a decade of any activity, any non-violent transgressions. It was breathtaking for us,” Johnson said Wednesday during the Republican National Convention. weekly leadership press conference.
“I don’t think that was expected. Look at the video, by the way. You know, four years ago when it was just implied that President Trump might do something like that, they were apoplectic. Joe Biden Sam, Adam Schiff, Chuck Schumer, they all said yes it would be crazy and unconscionable, and now they’re cheering it on,” Johnson continued.
“To us, it’s disgusting. To us, it probably proves the point. He suspects that, you know, they’re calling it the Biden crime family. If they weren’t a crime family, why do they need pardons? Right?” Johnson also said. “Look, there’s going to be a lot of attention on that. And I think that’s appropriate. And we’re going to be watching that, too.”
4 TRUMP’S RIVALS THAT BIDEN DID NOT PARDON
Johnson listens as President Donald Trump speaks after taking the oath of office at the 60th presidential inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Monday, Jan. 20. (Kevin Lamarque/Pool Photo via AP)
Biden pardoned his brothers and sisters just a few minutes before leaving the office on Monday.
The pardons applied to James Biden, Sarah Jones Biden, Valerie Biden Owens, John Owens and Francis Biden, the White House announced. The president claimed that his family could be the subject of “politically motivated investigations” after he leaves office.
“I believe in the rule of law and am optimistic that the strength of our legal institutions will ultimately prevail over politics. But baseless and politically motivated investigations destroy the lives, safety and financial security of targeted individuals and their families,” Biden said in a statement.
“Even when individuals have done nothing wrong and will eventually be exonerated, the mere fact that they are under investigation or prosecution can irreparably damage their reputations and finances,” Biden added.
The pardons have been widely criticized, and Trump-Vance senior transition adviser Jason Miller described them to Fox News as “nonsense”.
“I think what Joe Biden did, I thought it was nonsense,” he said.
‘THE VIEW’ CO-HOST CRIMES BIDEN’S LAST-SECOND PREVENTIVE PARDON, SAYS HIS LEGACY IS tainted
Biden and the former first lady boarded Special Air Mission 46 at Joint Base Andrews after Monday’s inauguration ceremony. Biden pardoned his family members just minutes before leaving office. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)
Biden’s former White House communications director, Kate Bedingfield, too he called them a “disappointing move”.
Earlier on Monday morning, Biden issued another wave of preventive pardons, which went to Dr. Anthony Fauci, General Mark Milley and persons associated with the House Select Committee investigation on January 6.
Since taking office, President Donald Trump checked out on release more than 1,500 charged with crimes stemming from the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Johnson speaks to reporters in Washington on Wednesday, January 22. (Fox News)
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“The president has made his decision,” Johnson said Wednesday when asked about the pardon.
Fox News’ Chad Pergram, Anders Hagstrom, Diana Stancy and Jamie Joseph contributed to this report.
