Quick Hit:

Ed Martin, the outgoing interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, has launched an investigation into the extraordinary scope of last-minute pardons issued by former President Joe Biden. 

Key Details:

• Ed Martin told Vince Coglianese that Biden’s pardons are under review due to their unusual scope and timing.

• Among those pardoned were Hunter Biden, James and Frank Biden, and members of the January 6 committee including Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger.

• Martin is questioning whether the use of the president’s plenary pardon power in this context rises to the level of corruption.

Diving Deeper:

Ed Martin's remarks during an interview with Daily Caller’s Vince Coglianese signal a potentially explosive inquiry into the Biden administration's final acts before relinquishing power. The investigation centers around what Martin called “suspiciously specific” pardons that were issued in a sweeping, preemptive manner to shield political allies and family members from future legal consequences.

Martin pointed to historical precedent to highlight the seriousness of the issue, referencing Bill Clinton’s infamous pardon of fugitive financier Marc Rich. While that move was widely criticized, it ultimately didn’t lead to criminal consequences due to the president’s expansive constitutional authority. Martin suggested that Biden’s pardons may go beyond even that level of abuse.

“What’s different here,” Martin explained, “is that the pardons were broad, yet highly targeted in timing. Some went back 14 years and covered everything the individuals had done during that period.” He added, “That leads to questions—because while the plenary power is real, it doesn’t exempt the motive from scrutiny.”

Hunter Biden’s pardon stands out among the most controversial. Despite vowing publicly for months that he would not intervene in his son’s legal troubles, Joe Biden issued a full pardon on Dec. 1, 2024, covering Hunter’s activities from Jan. 1, 2014, to Dec. 1, 2024. This sweep includes matters tied to Hunter’s overseas business dealings, his illegal gun purchase conviction, and an ongoing federal indictment involving over $1.4 million in unpaid taxes.

The pardon of Biden’s brother James, also linked to Hunter’s foreign business interests, and Frank Biden, who exploited his brother’s 2021 inauguration to promote his Florida law firm, have further fueled accusations of self-dealing.

Perhaps most egregiously, Biden issued blanket pardons to former Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger—Republican members of the now-defunct January 6 Select Committee. This preemptive move gave them full immunity for any actions related to their controversial investigations and public statements surrounding the Capitol unrest of January 6, 2021.

As Martin put it, “The question is: what is going on here?” His team has begun receiving responses to inquiries, and while no formal charges have been announced, the investigation appears to be ongoing.