Discussion on Biden’s Use of Autopen for Pardons

This weekend on “Saturday in America,” Fox News contributor Mark Thiessen joined host Kayleigh McEnany to talk about recent controversies surrounding former President Biden’s use of an autopen to sign pardons. According to reports from the Biden administration, there were some questions about how his team managed pardons, particularly towards the end of his term.

A report dated September 6 gained attention when former President Donald Trump declared he would destroy any documents he claimed were signed by Biden using an autopen.

McEnany acknowledged that while using an autopen is fairly standard in the White House—something every president has done—she noted that the Biden administration’s approach appeared to be somewhat different, referencing the Axios article for support.

Cruz Critiques Biden’s Pardons

During this discussion, McEnany pointed out that Biden’s chief of staff had repeatedly sought clarification on the use of the autopen to ensure the president’s intent was clearly understood.

In her experience, it wasn’t typical to second-guess whether President Trump had approved a document. She asked Thiessen if he had similar insights from his time working as George W. Bush’s chief speechwriter.

Thiessen mentioned a ruling from the Office of the General Counsel that allowed the use of an autopen as long as the president intended its use. He also remembered how President Bush avoided the autopen whenever possible. For instance, he recounted an instance when aides had to fly a bill to Bush in Asia so he could physically sign it to ensure no ambiguity existed.

Concerns About Biden’s Mental Acuity

The former Bush aide continued by asserting that there are significant doubts about Biden’s state of mind and whether he is truly making decisions himself.

He emphasized that it was troubling that a pardon could be signed without clear confirmation of Biden’s agreement, which undermined the authority of the office.

McEnany concluded the segment by noting that the Department of Justice had also raised concerns about the pardoning process under Biden, highlighting that this administration had set a record for the number of pardons and commutations issued.

A source familiar with the pardon workflow shared with Axios that after Biden pardoned his son Hunter in December 2024, there was a rush to find others who could be pardoned, with little scrutiny from the Justice Department.

Furthermore, an email indicated that Biden’s staff had some reluctance towards using an autopen, with requests for confirmation of Biden’s intentions regarding this tool.

In a January 7 email, Biden’s chief of staff asked when documents needing the autopen would be available, signaling clear uncertainty about the process.

In summary, the discussions raised important questions about the legitimacy and implications of using an autopen for presidential pardons, particularly with concerns regarding the president’s decision-making capabilities.