House Oversight Chairman Says Trump DOJ May Question Legality of Pre-emptive Pardons in Court

President Joe Biden’s last-minute pardons for several family members have sparked questions about their legality. House Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-KY) believes these pardons may not withstand judicial scrutiny.

Key Facts:

  • Right before Donald Trump’s second inauguration, Biden pardoned his brother James, James’s wife Sara, his sister Valerie, Valerie’s husband John, and his brother Francis.
  • Biden cited the possibility of “politically motivated investigations” as his reason for the pardons.
  • Biden had already pardoned his son, Hunter, following Hunter’s tax evasion and firearm convictions.
  • Comer led a corruption-centered impeachment investigation into Biden and called the pardons an “admission of guilt.”
  • Pam Bondi has been nominated for U.S. Attorney General under Trump, alongside Kash Patel for FBI director and John Ratcliffe for CIA director.

The Rest of The Story:

Comer shared his skepticism during an interview on “Sunday Morning Futures” with Maria Bartiromo.

He speculated that the pardons might be challenged by the incoming Trump administration’s Justice Department.

He pointed out how various federal agencies—the IRS, the Department of Justice, the FBI, and the Securities and Exchange Commission—had been looking into the Biden family’s financial dealings.

According to Comer, those investigations were constantly “told to stand down” whenever they got close to questioning Joe Biden.

Comer also argued that “no jury in America” would side with what he called a “baloney” pardon for anything the Biden family “may have done over the past decade” related to influence peddling.

In his view, granting broad preemptive pardons is a move that lacks transparency and fuels doubt about the Biden family’s conduct.

Commentary:

We share Comer’s belief that preemptive pardons are on shaky legal ground.

You cannot pardon someone for an offense that has not even been formally charged.

It sets a concerning precedent and undermines the idea of accountability.

If these pardons are truly invalid, the Trump Justice Department should test this theory in court.

They could begin by examining the Biden family’s financial dealings to see whether the pardons can be struck down.

This approach would either affirm the limits of preemptive pardons or clarify if the judiciary will allow them to stand.

The Bottom Line:

Comer’s statements reflect a larger debate over how far presidential pardon power can extend.

The ultimate question is whether courts will uphold these last-minute pardons—or decide they were improperly granted.

Read Next

Colombia Refuses Deportation Flights, Suffers Harsh And Immediate Consequences

California University System Caves After Trump’s EO, Changes Illegal Program That Excluded White Men

Elon Musk Gets a New Defender Over Ridiculous Claims He Made a Nazi Salute