Former President Donald Trump has announced his intention to revoke all documents, including presidential pardons, that he claims were signed by his predecessor, Joe Biden, using an autopen device.
An autopen is a machine used to replicate a person’s signature accurately. It is typically employed for documents that require a large volume of signatures or are of a routine, ceremonial nature. Presidents from both parties have historically used autopens for signing official letters and announcements.
Trump and his supporters have repeatedly alleged that Biden’s use of the autopen during his presidency invalidates his actions or suggests that he was not fully aware of them. It remains unconfirmed whether Biden used the device for signing pardons.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated, “Anyone who received a [pardon], [commutation], or any other legal document signed in this manner should be aware that this document has been completely invalidated and has no legal effect whatsoever.”
Prior to leaving office in January, Biden issued a number of pardons, some of which were reportedly for family members he sought to shield from politically motivated investigations. He also ordered the commutation of certain sentences, including those for non-violent drug offenders.
Trump had previously stated in a series of posts on Truth Social that approximately 92% of presidential documents during Biden’s term were “signed by autopen,” deeming those documents “null and void, no longer valid, and of no effect.” He further escalated his rhetoric against the former president, accusing him of not being involved in the signing process. Trump stated, “Biden was not involved in the autopen signing process, and if he claims he was, he will be accused of perjury.”
The Justice Department issued a legal opinion in 2005 stating that the President is not required to sign legislation exclusively by hand and may direct an official to affix his signature using an autopen.
It was previously reported that former President Barack Obama was the first to sign legislation using this technology while abroad.
