Former President Joe Biden commuted the life sentence of Indigenous activist Leonard Peltier, who had been imprisoned for nearly 50 years, on Jan. 20.

By Doina Chiacu, Jeff Mason, Nandita Bose and Phil Stewart WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Outgoing President Joe Biden issued preemptive pardons on Monday for several of his immediate family members and people that incoming President Donald Trump has targeted for retaliation,

President Biden commuted the prison sentence of Leonard Peltier, an imprisoned Native American rights activist, using his final minutes of presidential power on Monday to free a man who has spent nearly 50 years in federal prison after he was convicted of murder in connection with the killing of two F.B.I. agents.

Joe Biden pardoned Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired Gen. Mark Milley and members of the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Separately, Biden commuted the life sentence of Indigenous activist Leonard Peltier.

In his final hours as president, Joe Biden issued preemptive pardons for several individuals, including family members and high-profile figures like Liz Cheney and Mark Milley. The pardons extend to members of the Jan.

U.S. President Joe Biden’s eleventh-hour action to free Leonard Peltier grants the internationally acclaimed political prisoner a chance to return to his North Dakota homelands

Retired Gen. Mark Milley has expressed his gratitude to President Joe Biden for issuing him a pardon, saying the move alleviates his concerns over potential "retribution" by the incoming Trump administration.

President Joe Biden commuted the sentence of Indigenous activist Leonard Peltier. Leonard Peltier was a leader in the American Indian Movement, advocating for better healthcare, education, and jobs for Native and Indigenous people.