Trump says biden's presidential pardons signed by autopen invalid, non-binding

Washington, D.C. – President Donald Trump has launched a bold initiative to invalidate a series of appointments and pardons issued by his predecessor, Joe Biden, asserting that they were signed using an autopen—a mechanical device that replicates signatures—without Biden’s direct knowledge or consent. In a fiery Truth Social post on March 16, Trump declared these actions “VOID, VACANT, AND OF NO FURTHER FORCE OR EFFECT,” escalating a controversy that has gripped the nation since reports emerged questioning Biden’s use of the autopen during his presidency.

Trump’s statement specifically targeted pardons granted to members of the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riot—whom he branded the “Unselect Committee of Political Thugs”—as well as “many others.” He alleged that Biden “did not sign them but, more importantly, he did not know anything about them,” claiming the documents “were not explained to, or approved by, Biden.” Trump suggested that those responsible for authorizing the autopen signatures “may have committed a crime,” vowing that the committee members and others involved “are subject to investigation at the highest level.”

The move comes amid growing scrutiny of Biden’s use of the autopen, sparked by a report from the Heritage Foundation’s Oversight Project. The conservative group claimed that nearly all official documents signed during Biden’s tenure, including executive orders and pardons, bore identical autopen signatures, except for his July 2024 letter announcing his withdrawal from the presidential race. This has fueled speculation—amplified by Trump and his allies—about Biden’s mental capacity and whether unelected aides effectively controlled the presidency during his final years in office.

Among the actions Trump seeks to nullify are Biden’s last-minute pardons, issued on January 19, 2025, just before Trump’s inauguration. These included preemptive pardons for figures like Dr. Anthony Fauci, General Mark Milley, Hunter Biden, and January 6 Committee members, intended to shield them from potential legal retribution under Trump’s administration. Trump’s legal team is now exploring whether these pardons, and potentially dozens of Biden’s judicial appointments, can be voided if proven to have been signed without his personal authorization.

Legal experts are divided on the feasibility of Trump’s gambit. The Justice Department has long held—since a 2005 opinion—that a president need not physically sign documents for them to be legally binding, a precedent upheld across administrations. Autopens have been used by presidents since Harry Truman, with Barack Obama notably employing one to sign legislation in 2013. However, Trump’s argument hinges on intent: if Biden was unaware of what he was approving due to cognitive decline, as alleged by critics like Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, the validity of those actions could face unprecedented challenges.

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