
Biden Defends Autopen Use, Trump Seeks Probe
Biden justifies autopen signatures for mass pardons, as Trump calls for an investigation into the controversial practice.
Biden Explains Autopen Use Amid Clemency Wave
In a recent interview with The New York Times, former President Joe Biden addressed controversy surrounding his administration’s use of an autopen to sign hundreds of clemency documents in his final weeks in office. Biden, who oversaw the pardoning of over 1,500 individuals in a sweeping act of mass clemency, insisted he personally made every decision, despite not individually reviewing each name for categorical pardons.
“We’re talking about [granting clemency to] a whole lot of people,” Biden said, emphasizing the logistical demands of such a large-scale effort. According to the Times, Biden and his aides decided on the broad criteria for eligibility, and the president authorized the standards rather than personally reviewing every case. Once the criteria were set, staff used the autopen to sign off on the final documents, avoiding the need for repeated manual signatures by the president.
Trump Orders DOJ Investigation, Calls Practice a ‘Scandal’
The autopen practice has sparked a fierce response from Republican leaders, with President Donald Trump directing Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Department of Justice to launch a formal investigation into whether the technology’s use was linked to a decline in Biden’s mental health. In a June memo, Trump wrote, “In recent months, it has become increasingly apparent that former President Biden’s aides abused the power of Presidential signatures through the use of an autopen to conceal Biden’s cognitive decline and assert Article II authority.”
Trump characterized the use of an autopen for such consequential decisions as one of the “most dangerous and concerning scandals in American history.” He argued that the American public was intentionally kept in the dark about who was actually wielding executive authority, with Biden’s signature being “deployed across thousands of documents to effect radical policy shifts.”
At a press conference in June, Trump also criticized the use of autopen for any official document, noting that even ambassador appointments deserve the attention of a real, hand-signed signature. “Usually, when they put documents in front of you, they’re important… I think it’s inappropriate,” Trump said. “You have somebody that’s devoting four years of their life or more to being an ambassador. I think you really deserve that person deserves to get a real signature… not an autopen signature.”
Broader Debate Over Executive Process and Accountability
While previous presidents have used autopen technology to sign official documents, the scale of its deployment under Biden has reignited debate about the transparency and accountability of presidential decision-making. Supporters of the practice argue it is a necessary tool to efficiently manage large volumes of paperwork, especially in extraordinary situations such as mass clemency actions. Critics, however, claim it undermines public trust and raises questions about who truly wields executive authority.
As the Justice Department’s investigation proceeds, the controversy over autopen use is set to fuel continued debate over executive powers and the importance of transparency at the highest levels of government. The outcome could shape future standards for presidential decision-making and document authentication.