Senate Republicans Push for Hearings on Biden’s Use of Autopen

Senate Republicans are looking to dive deeper into former President Joe Biden’s use of the autopen, proposing additional hearings and potential changes to the Constitution to address what they describe as “psychologically helpless presidents.”

Sen. Eric Schmidt, who leads the Constitutional Senate Judiciary Subcommittee, is requesting access to notes concerning a broad range of Biden-era documents and the automation process under the Presidential Records Act. In a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Schmidt stressed that establishing a clear paper trail for directives issued toward the end of Biden’s presidency would be crucial in determining “whether legislative relief is most appropriate.”

Biden has previously acknowledged to Congress that he authorized the use of the autopen without knowing who provided the final approval.

In particular, Schmidt pointed out that the increasing reliance on autopens for signing important documents—like pardons and executive orders—raises questions about the effectiveness of those actions if they weren’t directly directed by Biden, suggesting it serves as a “poignant symbol of President Biden’s mental decline.”

Schmidt is asking for access to a variety of documents, including instructions on autopen usage, along with emails related to its permissions.

Senate Hearing Scheduled on Leadership During Biden’s Presidency

Schmidt also seeks to obtain all White House records going back to November 1, 2024, with a focus on briefing books, notes, and documents related to pardons. He believes that having this information will help the subcommittee ensure any proposed amendments regarding a mentally incapacitated president will be comprehensive.

He noted that amending the Constitution is already a challenging process. Hence, failing to consider all contingencies about presidential incapacity could complicate matters even further.

This inquiry highlights how the autopen has been a focal point in discussions surrounding alleged mental decline during Biden’s term. The Senate Judiciary Committee has been probing into who is truly in charge amidst concerns regarding Biden’s capabilities.

Former White House officials are set to testify regarding who actually directed decisions during Biden’s presidency. Sources revealed that Neela Tanden, the former director of the National Policy Council, had minimal interaction with Biden. During a five-hour transcribed interview, she indicated that she would routinely send notes for autopen signatures without knowing much about the approval process beforehand.

Still, in her legal statement shared with Fox News Digital, Tanden claimed that as Chief of Staff, she managed the flow of documents and was authorized to direct automatic signatures for certain categories. She mentioned, “I had a system to approve the use of autopens that I inherited from previous administrations.” Tanden later clarified that while she was no longer responsible for document flow, she had initially adopted a standardized approach throughout her tenure.

Tanden also remarked that discussions about Biden’s age and whether he was in charge often entangle two distinct issues. “In the White House, I had no reason to doubt his authority,” she asserted.

Schmidt has requested this information to better understand Biden’s decision-making abilities toward the end of his term and the influence of those close to him.