DOJ Reviews Biden-Era Pardons Amid Autopen Usage Allegations

The House Oversight Committee released a report alleging that many of President Joe Biden's pardons and executive actions were signed using an autopen without his proper authorization, raising questions about the legitimacy and validity of those actions. Committee Chair James Comer accused Biden's aides of coordinating a cover-up regarding the president's cognitive decline and criticized the inconsistent process used to obtain Biden's assent, which often involved machine-generated signatures. In response, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that her office had initiated a review of the Biden administration's use of the autopen for pardons, signaling potential legal scrutiny. Legal experts note that previous administrations have used autopen, and the Constitution does not clearly invalidate such delegations of presidential signature, suggesting the committee's claims may face challenges in court. The Biden administration denied any wrongdoing, asserting that the president made all decisions and accusing Republicans of pursuing political retribution amidst government shutdown talks. This investigation reflects ongoing partisan battles over presidential authority and accountability in the Biden administration.