President Donald Trump has intensified his criticism of former President Joe Biden’s use of an autopen to sign thousands of pardons, sparking a heated debate over the legality and transparency behind these actions, as Fox News reports.
The controversy revolves around Trump’s claims that Biden did not personally authorize many of the 4,245 clemency acts signed during his administration, particularly those finalized in his last months in office using an autopen machine.
Trump’s objections to Biden’s use of an autopen, a device that replicates a person’s signature through programmed movements, have been ongoing for months.
Trump argues that the thousands of pardons signed this way are invalid because Biden was unaware of the specific documents being authorized.
During his recent trip to the U.K., Trump reiterated his stance to reporters.
He stated, "It was illegally used. He never gave the orders. He never told them what to do."
Trump further added, "And I guess the only one he signed, or one of the few he signed, was the pardon for his son."
The criticism centers on the process during Biden’s tenure, where an autopen, capable of using various pens like ballpoints or markers, was employed for signing important orders and pardons.
A spokesperson for Biden did not immediately provide a comment when approached by Fox News Digital regarding these allegations.
According to a July report from the New York Times, several significant preemptive pardons were finalized in Biden’s last days in office with the approval of his chief of staff, Jeff Zients.
While Biden reportedly decided on these clemency acts during a meeting, it was Zients who gave the final go-ahead for the autopen to be used in cases involving prominent figures like Anthony Fauci, former chief medical advisor, and Gen. Mark Milley, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Biden, however, told the New York Times that he personally made every clemency decision independently.
Data from the Pew Research Center shows that Biden granted a total of 4,245 acts of clemency during his presidency, with 96% of these occurring between October 2024 and January 2025, his final months in office.
In contrast, a White House official previously informed Fox News Digital that Trump uses his own hand signature for all legally binding documents. However, he has admitted to using an autopen for personal letters.
Adding to the scrutiny, Zients appeared before the House Oversight Committee this week to address concerns over Biden’s mental acuity during his term, adding to what is sure to be continued controversy.
