Trump’s Justice Department reviews Biden’s final pardons, raising concerns over use of AutoPen and cognitive state.

Justice Department Launches Probe Into Biden’s Final Acts of Clemency

The Justice Department under President Donald Trump is conducting a formal review of the pardons issued by former President Joe Biden during the final weeks of his term, amid growing scrutiny over the use of automated signature tools and concerns about Biden’s mental fitness at the time of those decisions.

According to officials familiar with the matter, Pardon Attorney Ed Martin is spearheading the review. While details remain limited, the review reportedly includes Biden’s use of an AutoPen—an electronic signature device—to authorize clemency documents, raising legal and procedural questions about intent and authorization.

The review is also expected to focus on controversial preemptive pardons, particularly those granted to Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, and more than 35 individuals previously on federal death row. Those sentences were commuted to life imprisonment in the final days of Biden’s presidency, forming part of what the White House at the time described as the largest single-day act of clemency by a U.S. president.

Though the exact number and nature of pardons under review remain unclear, former President Biden issued clemency to more than 1,500 individuals, prompting concern from critics about both the scope and rationale of the decisions. Some recipients were reportedly convicted of major financial crimes, including schemes that defrauded taxpayers of tens of millions of dollars.

Critics of the move have expressed particular concern about the use of preemptive pardons, arguing they may have shielded political allies or family members from potential legal consequences before charges could be filed. Questions have also been raised about whether Biden, nearing the end of his presidency, maintained the cognitive capacity required to evaluate such high-stakes decisions independently.

As of now, the Justice Department has not issued a public statement outlining the full scope of the inquiry or confirming whether any specific pardons could be subject to reversal or legal challenge. Requests for comment have gone unanswered.

The review comes amid broader efforts by the Trump administration to reevaluate several actions taken during Biden’s final months in office. While presidential pardons are typically insulated from judicial review, potential procedural irregularities—such as questionable documentation or mental incapacity—could provide grounds for further legal scrutiny.

Whether the current investigation will result in any formal actions or revisions remains uncertain. However, the inquiry underscores the ongoing political and legal tension surrounding presidential clemency powers, especially when wielded in the closing days of an administration.