Overview

• Biden said he personally approved the criteria for thousands of pardons and commutations and directed staff to use the autopen only after those standards were set, not to bypass his consent.
• He described the autopen as legal and necessary to process 25 clemency warrants covering more than 4,000 cases in his final days.
• A Jan. 19 email from Chief of Staff Jeff Zients confirmed the autopen’s use following a meeting where Biden outlined his clemency standards.
• The Justice Department and GOP-led House Oversight Committee have opened parallel investigations into the autopen’s role and are subpoenaing former aides and the White House physician this month.
• Dr. Kevin O’Connor invoked doctor-patient privilege and the Fifth Amendment to decline answering questions about Biden’s fitness during a deposition with the Oversight panel.