Trump SLAMS Biden’s Autopen – Pardons VOID?
Donald Trump launches investigation into President Biden’s extensive use of autopen, questioning the legitimacy of critical documents including recent pardons.
At a Glance
- Trump claims Biden’s pardons signed with autopen are “VOID, VACANT, AND OF NO FURTHER FORCE OR EFFECT”
- House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer is investigating Biden’s use of the automated signature device
- Legal scholars confirm that pardons are final once granted, regardless of how they were signed
- The autopen has been used by presidents since Thomas Jefferson’s time
- Trump suggested “radical left lunatics” may have been making decisions without Biden’s knowledge
Trump Questions Who’s Really Running the Government
Former President Donald Trump has raised serious concerns about President Biden’s use of an autopen, a device that mechanically replicates handwritten signatures on official documents. Trump’s scrutiny focuses on whether Biden was fully aware of the decisions being made under his authority, particularly regarding immigration policies and presidential pardons. The investigation signals a broader challenge to transparency and accountability in the highest office of government.
During recent statements, Trump specifically questioned who actually signed legislation related to border policies. “I really – we’re going to start looking into this whole thing with who signed this legislation, who signed legislation opening our border,” Trump stated, implying that Biden may not have personally authorized significant policy changes.
Congressional Investigation Underway
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer has already begun investigating Biden’s use of the autopen, characterizing it as potentially “one of the greatest scandals of our generation.” Comer plans to interview former Biden aides about the extent of the device’s use and whether it indicates issues with the President’s decision-making capacity. The investigation will examine whether proper protocols were followed when using the automated signature technology.
“This is one of the greatest scandals of our generation, and Americans are demanding answers,” said James Comer.
Trump has specifically targeted Biden’s pardons as potentially invalid because they were reportedly signed using an autopen. On his social media platform Truth Social, Trump declared these pardons “VOID, VACANT, AND OF NO FURTHER FORCE OR EFFECT,” suggesting they lacked legal standing. The former president’s claims have raised questions about the constitutional requirements for official presidential actions.
Legal Experts Refute Trump’s Claims
Despite Trump’s assertions, legal scholars unanimously agree there is no constitutional mechanism to overturn pardons once they have been granted. The Constitution does not specify that pardons must be signed by hand, and previous legal opinions support the use of mechanical signing devices. A 2005 Justice Department memo explicitly supported the use of an autopen for signing bills, and a 1929 Office of the Solicitor General memo stated that a pardon does not require the president’s autograph.
“The ‘Pardons’ that Sleepy Joe Biden gave to the Unselect Committee of Political Thugs, and many others, are hereby declared VOID, VACANT, AND OF NO FURTHER FORCE OR EFFECT, because of the fact that they were done by Autopen,” Donald Trump stated.
The use of autopens is not unprecedented in presidential history. Presidents Barack Obama, John F. Kennedy, and Thomas Jefferson all utilized mechanical signing devices. The National Archives has confirmed that official documents use a copy of the president’s signature provided by the White House, which follows standard procedures. Additionally, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit ruled in 2024 that the clemency power is not restricted to documented writings.
Broader Implications for Presidential Authority
Trump’s challenge to Biden’s use of the autopen raises broader questions about executive authority and the proper delegation of presidential powers. Trump has suggested that “radical left lunatics” who preferred Bernie Sanders over Biden may have been making decisions without Biden’s full knowledge or consent. This narrative questions not just the mechanics of signature authorization but the fundamental nature of presidential awareness and control.
“Who was operating the autopen? This is a very serious thing. We had a president that didn’t sign anything,” Trump said, amplifying concerns about who was truly making decisions during Biden’s administration.
As this investigation unfolds, it will likely fuel continued debate about transparency in governmental operations and the standards for authenticating presidential decisions. The controversy highlights the tension between modern technological efficiency and traditional notions of personal accountability in America’s highest office. PolitiFact has rated Trump’s claims about void pardons as “False,” noting there is no legal precedent for declaring pardons void based on the mechanical nature of the signature.
