Zakharova called Biden's pardon of his family members self-deprecating
The preventive pardon by former US President Joe Biden of his family members is self-defeating. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on January 20.
"Biden in the last hours of his presidency pardoned a number of other members of his family in advance. This is already besides his son Hunter. And this without charges and court decisions. Self-incriminating," Zakharova wrote in her Telegram channel.
The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry accompanied her publication with an anecdote about a bride who in the morning had already confessed to the groom in adultery, but before the altar she needed to do it again, because "new data have appeared".
Earlier in the day, Biden pardoned his relatives James B. Biden, Sarah Jones Biden, Valerie Biden Owens, John T. Owens and Francis W. Biden and emphasized that the presentation of the pardons should not be taken as an admission of their guilt of any wrongdoing. The former U.S. leader indicated that his family members "have been subjected to uncompromising attacks and threats."
As head of state, Biden commuted the sentences of nearly 2,500 people convicted of non-violent crimes on January 17. Among them were citizens who received long sentences and people whose sentences were based on outdated rules, such as crimes involving illegal substances.
Biden said on January 11 that before leaving the White House he may preemptively pardon some individuals who have criticized US President Donald Trump, who took office on January 20.
Prior to that, Biden decided to pardon his son on December 2, 2024, in honor of Thanksgiving. Reacting to this, Hunter Biden stated that he intends to dedicate his life to helping people with addictions. In September, Hunter Biden pleaded guilty to nine felony counts of failing to pay taxes, and in June, he pleaded guilty to three felony counts of gun possession.
