- Trump declares Biden’s last-minute pardons "void," claiming they were signed via autopen without Biden’s knowledge or consent.
- The Heritage Foundation alleges that nearly all Biden-signed documents during his presidency used an autopen, raising legitimacy concerns.
- Pardons shielded high-profile figures, including Fauci, Milley, and January 6 Committee members, sparking accusations of "swamp protection."
- Trump’s legal team plans to challenge the pardons, potentially setting a precedent on autopen use in presidential decisions.
- The scandal highlights a potential constitutional crisis, with claims unelected staffers exploited Biden’s cognitive decline for controversial actions.
President Donald Trump has declared President Joe Biden’s last-minute pardons “void, vacant, and of no further force or effect” in a bombshell declaration on Truth Social.
Trump alleges that the pardons, which shielded Biden’s family members, Dr. Anthony Fauci, General Mark Milley, and members of the January 6 Committee, were signed using an autopen without Biden’s knowledge or consent at a time when he was experiencing very obvious cognitive decline. This shocking revelation, supported by findings from the Heritage Foundation’s Oversight Project, raises serious questions about the legitimacy of Biden’s final acts as president and whether unelected staffers exploited his cognitive decline to push through controversial decisions.
The autopen scandal exposed
The controversy centers on the use of a mechanical device that replicates a signature known as an autopen to sign official documents, including pardons, during Biden’s presidency. According to the Heritage Foundation’s Oversight Project, nearly every document bearing Biden’s signature during his term was signed by an autopen. The only confirmed document with Biden’s actual signature was his letter announcing his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race, which is quite telling.
Trump, in a fiery statement on Truth Social, declared, “Joe Biden did not sign them but, more importantly, he did not know anything about them! The necessary Pardoning Documents were not explained to, or approved by, Biden. He knew nothing about them, and the people that did may have committed a crime.” This claim aligns with Special Counsel Robert Hur’s report, which described Biden as “an elderly man with a poor memory,” unable to recall basic facts.
Pardons that protected the swamp
The pardons in question, which were issued on Biden’s last day in office, targeted high-profile figures, including members of the January 6 Committee, whom Trump has accused of conducting a politically motivated “witch hunt.” Other recipients included General Mark Milley, who publicly criticized Trump, and Dr. Anthony Fauci, whose handling of the COVID-19 pandemic has been a lightning rod for controversy.
These pardons represent the kind of “swamp protection” that has long allowed Washington insiders to evade accountability. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has called for a Department of Justice investigation, stating, “If true, these executive orders, pardons, and all other actions are unconstitutional and legally void.”
What happens next?
Trump’s legal team is expected to challenge the pardons in court, arguing that Biden’s lack of awareness and consent renders them invalid. The case could set a precedent for the use of autopens in presidential decision-making and raise questions about the extent of Biden’s involvement in his administration’s actions.
As the legal battle unfolds, Trump’s supporters are hailing the move as a long-overdue reckoning for Biden’s legacy. “This is the swamp-draining moment we’ve been waiting for,” one MAGA influencer posted on X.
The autopen scandal has exposed a potential constitutional crisis, with allegations that unelected staffers may have wielded presidential power without Biden’s knowledge. Whether the courts will nullify Biden’s pardons remains to be seen, but Trump’s bold challenge has thrust the issue into the national spotlight, forcing Americans to confront uncomfortable questions about the integrity of presidential authority.
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