Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Trump Renews Autopen Claims, Demands Arrests, Declares Biden-Era Actions Void

Legal experts dispute his authority to nullify a predecessor’s official acts based on how signatures were affixed.

Overview

  • Trump posted Saturday on Truth Social alleging illegal autopen use under Joe Biden, asserting anything signed that way has no force or effect and urging arrests of Biden-era staffers.
  • He claimed the autopen operator lacked written authorization and accused political opponents of orchestrating the practice during the prior administration.
  • In November he declared all Biden documents signed by autopen “terminated,” a position he reiterated in his latest posts.
  • Legal scholars say a president cannot void a predecessor’s valid actions on that basis, and there have been no arrests or successful invalidations tied to the claims.
  • Autopen use is common across administrations, including limited use acknowledged by Trump, and the DOJ previously replaced online pardon copies after identical signatures drew scrutiny.