NBC News attempted a “gotcha” moment against Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) this week, only to expose its own lack of basic understanding about how digital signatures work. The far-left outlet ran a story suggesting Comer’s use of a digital signature undercuts his investigation into President Joe Biden’s repeated use of the autopen—a comparison critics immediately slammed as misleading and partisan.
NBC’s headline read, “Lead investigator into Biden’s use of an autopen signed letters with a digital signature,” implying hypocrisy on Comer’s part. But experts and critics were quick to point out the clear and critical difference between the two methods.
A digital signature requires secure verification, ensuring the person signing is indeed the authorizing party. It’s an authenticated, traceable process commonly used in business and government. In contrast, an autopen is a mechanical device capable of signing documents without the person’s awareness or approval—making it ripe for abuse if not tightly controlled.
Comer, chair of the House Oversight Committee, is leading inquiries into concerns about President Biden’s cognitive ability and allegations of improper use of the autopen to sign official documents. The Biden administration has reportedly used the autopen for key decisions, and the New York Times has acknowledged the need to investigate whether it was used improperly.
Comer’s digital signature is both authorized and verifiable. NBC News failed to explain how that undermines his investigation into whether the president knowingly signs off on official actions. The issue isn’t whether a signature is electronic—it’s whether the person is mentally and physically authorizing the action.
NBC’s move to deflect from growing questions about Biden’s fitness for office by launching an irrelevant attack on Comer’s office not only backfired but further eroded the network’s journalistic credibility. Critics labeled the report “fake news,” citing NBC’s ongoing refusal to cover the Biden autopen scandal and cognitive concerns with the same intensity they apply to Republican figures.
