The White House is looking into former President Joe Biden’s use of autopens, with senior officials informing that thousands of documents have already been handed over to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).
This investigation is being led by the White House lawyers, who are in touch with the Department of Justice.
It mainly examines communications and records concerning Biden’s autopen usage.
An official commented that while he isn’t ready to share findings yet, over 27,000 records have been shared with the White House.
Spokesperson Carolyn Leavitt criticized Biden on Tuesday, stating, “Joe Biden was the worst, most incompetent, oldest president in our country’s history.” She mentioned that it’s widely discussed how Biden’s power has been transferred to an autopen, leaving decisions to unelected staff.
Leavitt also expressed that the Trump White House is dedicated to uncovering the many questions Americans have concerning Biden’s administration.
Officials revealed plans to review more than a million documents.
About access to records held by NARA, each sitting president has the ability to view documents from past administrations.
Senior officials noted that the review will cover documentation related to Biden’s presidency and his autopen use over several years, aiming for transparency about the health of the former president.
Additionally, authorities stated they are considering whether there are policies in place to govern autopen use.
An official explained, “The legal use of an autopen is only when the president explicitly approves something.”
“This is a priority for the administration,” another official added, emphasizing the significance of the President’s signature.
A source raised the question of whether the autopen has been misused. The White House and DOJ aim to dig deeper into the extensive document trove.
Biden signed many documents with his autopen during his time in office, including his last pardon, although he signed just one for his son, Hunter.
In the final weeks, he exercised his clemency powers, allowing over 1,500 individuals to benefit, which was touted as a notable action by the administration.
An autopen operates by mimicking a person’s signature, and it’s versatile enough to handle various types of pens, unlike typical signature stamps.
An official posed a critical question: “Did Biden cede authority to unelected staff and a machine that holds legal power in place of his own hand?”
Biden, in a recent conversation with the New York Times, defended his use of autopen, saying he “made all the decisions.” Yet, reports indicated he didn’t approve each individual case of amnesty for a large group.
Committees, like the House Oversight Committee, are also probing Biden’s health and the autopen usage.
Despite the parallel investigations, senior administration officials stressed that the White House lawyers’ inquiry is distinct from Congress’s investigation.
Officials labeled the investigation a “large effort,” aiming for closure as soon as possible.
“The lawyers are working hard to provide clarity,” one source mentioned. “It’s crucial for the public to understand which signatures were prompted by Biden and which by his staff.”
Officials remarked, “The public elected the president, not his staff.”
Regarding Trump, officials noted that he hasn’t used autopen for any official matters.
Some informal tasks, like birthday letters or non-critical documents, may utilize autopens, but nothing has been categorized as official business.
A White House official reiterated, “All executive orders have been signed directly by the president.” Furthermore, Trump directed the Justice Department in a memo about investigating the autopen’s association with Biden’s mental capacity.
