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Trump Challenges Biden Pardons, Citing Autopen Use

Legal experts counter Trump’s claims, affirming the constitutional validity of autopen-signed pardons.

Damilic Corp. president Bob Olding anchors a sheet of paper as the Atlantic Plus, the Signascript tabletop model autopen, produces a signature at their Rockville, Md., office, June 13, 2011. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)
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President Donald Trump gestures while speaking at the Justice Department March 14, 2025 in Washington, DC.
A demonstration of an old model autopen in 2011.

Overview

  • Donald Trump declared Joe Biden's last-minute pardons void, alleging they were signed using an autopen without Biden's awareness.
  • Biden issued preemptive pardons to family members, political allies, and January 6 committee members to protect them from potential retribution.
  • Legal experts emphasize that autopen signatures are constitutionally valid for presidential actions, including pardons, and cannot be overturned by a successor.
  • The Heritage Foundation's Oversight Project has raised concerns about Biden's frequent use of the autopen during his presidency, questioning his involvement in key decisions.
  • Trump suggested that courts should decide the validity of Biden's pardons, though no legal challenges have been initiated as of now.