Investigator Discusses Biden Pardons
In a striking interview on Sunday, House Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-KY) delivered a searing critique of the preemptive pardons issued by President Joe Biden to members of his family in the waning moments of his administration. Speaking with Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo on Sunday Morning Futures, Comer not only questioned the legality of Biden’s sweeping pardons but suggested they represented a tacit “admission of guilt.”
The pardons, announced mere minutes before Donald Trump took the oath of office for his second presidential term last week, included Biden’s brother James Biden; James Biden’s wife, Sara Jones Biden; his sister, Valerie Biden Owens; Valerie Owens’ husband, John T. Owens; and his brother, Francis W. Biden.
This follows an earlier pardon issued to his son, Hunter Biden, who had been convicted of tax evasion and gun crimes. Biden cited concerns over “politically motivated investigations” as his rationale, but critics, including Comer, are far from convinced.
Comer, a leading figure in the now-concluded impeachment inquiry into Biden, argued that these last-minute pardons were more than an unusual parting gesture. “It’s baloney,” Comer remarked, rejecting the notion that such pardons could hold up under judicial scrutiny. “No jury in America would buy that.” For Comer, the language of the pardons—designed to cover “anything you may have done over the past decade pertaining to influence peddling”—read like a blanket acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
Today on @SundayFutures with @MariaBartiromo, House Oversight Committee Chairman @RepJamesComer spoke about President Trump confronting U.S. Financial Institutions over claims of debanking of conservatives. @FoxNews pic.twitter.com/Cpok6XXVeL
— SundayMorningFutures (@SundayFutures) January 26, 2025
Beyond the pardons themselves, Comer emphasized a broader issue of accountability, particularly for government officials who he believes facilitated a “cover-up” of the Bidens’ alleged misconduct. He pointed to Trump’s new appointees, including Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, as key players in ensuring that justice is served.
Comer noted that efforts to hold these officials accountable are already underway, highlighting communications with Bondi’s office and a commitment to investigate those who “stood down” when probes into the Bidens approached sensitive territory.
What Comer uncovered in his own investigations, which he discusses extensively in his book, paints a damning picture of systemic interference. According to Comer, four agencies—the IRS, DOJ, FBI, and SEC—were actively investigating the Bidens but were repeatedly stymied when efforts began to implicate Joe Biden directly. Comer alleged the presence of “deep state actors” who blocked attempts to question Biden, undermining the integrity of these investigations.
When pressed by Bartiromo on the legitimacy of the pardons, Comer delivered a blunt assessment: “I don’t [think they’re legitimate].” He went on to underscore the disconnect between Biden’s actions and the public’s sense of justice. “I don’t think the average person that works hard and pays taxes has much sympathy for a president that, in his last act in office, pardoned his entire family for financial public corruption and didn’t have the guts to tell anybody why he did it.”