Former President Donald Trump has announced his intention to invalidate all documents, including presidential pardons, that he claims were signed by his predecessor, Joe Biden, using an autopen device. The autopen, a machine that replicates a person’s signature, is typically employed for high-volume or ceremonial documents and has been used by presidents from both parties to sign official letters and announcements.
Trump and his supporters have repeatedly alleged that Biden’s use of the autopen during his presidency renders his actions invalid, suggesting he was not fully aware of the documents he was signing. It remains unclear whether Biden actually used the autopen for pardon documents.
“Anyone who received a pardon, commutation, or any other legal document signed in this manner should know that document is completely null and void, with no legal effect,” Trump stated on his Truth Social platform.
Before leaving office in January, Biden issued a number of pardons, some of which were reportedly intended to protect family members from politically motivated investigations. He also commuted sentences, including those of non-violent drug offenders.
Trump recently asserted on Truth Social that approximately 92% of presidential documents during Biden’s term were signed with an autopen, deeming them “null and void, no longer valid, and without effect.” He further escalated his rhetoric, accusing Biden of not being involved in the signing process, stating, “Biden was not involved in the autopen signing of documents, and if he claims he was, he will be accused of perjury.”
The U.S. Department of Justice issued a legal opinion in 2005 stating that the President is not required to sign legislation exclusively by hand and can direct an official to affix his signature using an autopen.
DZWatch will continue to monitor this developing situation.
