Trump alleges that pardons by Biden are ‘void’ because he used an autopen to sign off on them
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The pardons, said Trump, “are hereby declared VOID, VACANT, AND OF NO FURTHER FORCE OR EFFECT.”
“In other words, Joe Biden did not sign them but, more importantly, he did not know anything about them! The necessary Pardoning Documents were not explained to, or approved by, Biden,” he said.
Trump’s accusations that Biden didn’t know about the pardons have not been substantiated.
Here’s what we know.
What is an autopen?
It is described as a tool “for the world’s most influential leaders, allowing them to more effectively apply their time and attention to important issues without compromising the impact of personalized correspondence,” the company says on its webpage.
The machines can be used to “sign” all kinds of items, from books to athletic equipment, and of course, sheets of paper.
Has an autopen been used by a president before?
Yes, most notably, former president Barack Obama directed staff to use an autopen to sign a bill into law in 2011 while he was travelling in Europe, per the Associated Press. Congress had approved the legislation last minute, but there wasn’t enough time to get the document to France before its powers expired. That was reportedly the first time an autopen was used to sign a bill into law — but not the first time an autopen had been used in place of a president’s handwritten signature.
What are the unproven claims against Biden?
Trump’s comments come after allegations made by the Oversight Project, part of The Heritage Foundation, the Washington, D.C.-based think tank behind Project 2025. The group said in a post on X on March 6 that it gathered documents with Biden’s signature during his presidency and found that “all used the same autopen signature except for the announcement that the former President was dropping out of the race last year.”
The accusations made by the Oversight Project against Biden have not been independently verified.
Are the pardons really “void” if Biden allegedly used an autopen?
No, using an autopen does not make pardons void.
An overview of the pardon power in the Constitution “establishes the President’s authority to grant clemency, encompassing not only pardons of individuals but several other forms of relief from criminal punishment as well.”
It does not mention the use of an autopen.
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