But the Biden pardon that will be best remembered is the sweeping pardon he granted in December to his son Hunter, who was facing sentencing in two federal felony cases. That pardon, it turned out, was a prelude to the other Biden family pardons he issued on his final day in office.

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.