Ex-President Joe Biden, on Monday, signed an executive grant of clemency for five family members hours before noon, when his predecessor and successor Donald Trump was scheduled to be sworn in as president.

Mr Biden issued the pardons to shield his family members from what he described as politically motivated attacks given Mr Trump’s constant bluster of retribution against those who used the justice system to persecute him and hurt his ambition over the last four years.

Mr Biden pardoned his two brothers Francis Biden, James B. Biden and his wife Sara Jones. He also pardoned his sister Valerie Biden Owens and her husband John T. Owens on Monday, January 20, minutes before his presidency expired.

He granted them full and unconditional pardons for any “non-violent offences against the United States which they may have committed or taken part in during the period from January 1, 2014 through the date of this pardon.”

This was the first time a U.S. president would brazenly shield his family members against prosecution with a pardon —-known as a tool of forgiveness for the guilty.

Mr Biden had previously pardoned his son, Hunter, who stood to be sentenced for illegal drug use and illegal possession of a gun.