Halperin Questions New York Times’ Coverage of Biden’s Autopen Use

In a recent interview with former President Joe Biden, political commentator Mark Halperin criticized the New York Times for not including expert and Republican viewpoints regarding Biden’s use of autopens for pardons. He pointed out that these analyses were notably absent from the article.

Halperin highlighted a double standard, suggesting that if the situation were reversed, the Times would have sought a comment from a figure like Adam Schiff, which wasn’t done in this instance. “There aren’t any legal experts cited in that story,” he noted.

Biden’s Defense

During the interview, Biden defended his use of autopen for significant decisions, claiming that it allowed him to extend pardons to many people. Halperin asserted that ignoring key perspectives was a violation of basic journalistic principles. He expressed disbelief that if a Republican were in Biden’s position, the coverage would be different, suggesting that the Times would include various viewpoints to provide balance.

Halperin emphasized, “It’s essentially Journalism 101. Biden can pardon people now, right? That’s the implication in the article. Everything else seems fine, but this aspect is glossed over.”

He continued, criticizing the lack of voices presenting counterarguments or legal scrutiny regarding Biden’s claims about autopen use. “If the tables were turned, you’d see a different approach,” he remarked.

Responses from Trump and the Times

Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer pointed out a recurring trend in what he calls “legacy left coverage,” where Republican perspectives are often neglected in stories that may involve Democratic issues.

In relation to Biden’s autopen use, Trump remarked, somewhat cryptically, that he wasn’t fully aware of the situation surrounding it.

Biden, in a recent phone conversation, shared that he had used an autopen to ensure that the pardons were processed efficiently, especially given the number of individuals involved. However, a New York Times report indicated he did not specifically approve each name on the list.

In the final days of his presidency, Biden’s Chief of Staff confirmed that several notable pardons were approved, sparking further discussions about the decision-making process.

As this story unfolds, Fox News has reached out to the New York Times for further comments.