President Trump sharply criticized President Biden’s use of the autopen for issuing mass pardons, calling it “one of the biggest scandals in the last 50 to 100 years.” The remarks followed Biden’s public admission that he did not personally sign each individual clemency order, but instead authorized his chief of staff to use the autopen due to the volume of paperwork involved.
In a New York Times interview, Biden defended the move, claiming he made all final decisions regarding who would receive pardons. He argued the autopen was a legal, standard method to handle a large number of documents. Among those pardoned were high-profile figures such as Gen. Mark Milley, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Hunter Biden, and members of the president’s own family.
President Trump responded by stating, “I guarantee he knew nothing about what he was signing.” He warned that Biden’s use of the autopen raises serious concerns about mental fitness and executive accountability.
The Department of Justice has launched an investigation into whether the autopen’s usage overstepped legal boundaries or misrepresented the president’s direct involvement. House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer is leading a parallel congressional probe, questioning whether senior White House aides exploited Biden’s diminished capacity to push through controversial clemencies.
Republican lawmakers, including Senator Eric Schmitt, have voiced alarm over the decision-making chain behind the mass pardons, labeling it a clear breach of constitutional protocol. They argue that delegating such authority undermines the office of the presidency and bypasses appropriate checks on executive clemency powers.
Biden’s aides maintain that the president exercised full discretion over each decision, and that the use of the autopen was purely administrative. Critics, however, point to the unprecedented scope of the pardons and the secrecy surrounding the approvals as reasons for concern.
As investigations continue, the controversy is escalating into a major political crisis. With Republicans pressing for answers and Democrats defending procedural legality, the issue is likely to dominate headlines and congressional hearings in the weeks ahead.
