Trump’s Claims on Biden and Autopen Use
Former President Trump has alleged that President Biden committed a “crime” by using a White House autopen for signing official orders and pardons without fully grasping the implications. This statement came during an episode of the “Pod Force One” podcast, hosted by Miranda Devine.
Trump, who is 78, remarked on Biden’s leadership, stating, “The people who ran this country were radical left madmen… they didn’t want it. [Biden]”. He further expressed that, in the weeks following Biden’s inauguration, those in power were bewildered at the extent of Biden’s capabilities, claiming that they realized he was not quite in control and that the autopen allowed for unchecked actions.
“It’s a crime to do that to the country,” Trump insisted. “I really believe it was a crime. I think people took over the autopen.”
Further explaining his perspective, Trump added, “I don’t think he wanted an open border before… If you go back and look a few years ago, he wanted the border as tight as me.” He suggested that powerful forces had overtaken the White House during Biden’s administration.
Since taking office on January 20, 2021, Biden has reinstated several enforcement measures, including the DACA program and ended Trump’s “Remain in Mexico” policy while also halting the construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall. This has led to some observations about Biden’s approach to pardons and executive actions, with discussions likening it to a scandal worse than Watergate, especially as many pardons appeared to be processed through an autopen.
Trump asserted, “They are criminals, and we should never forget what they did to our country,” expressing a desire for accountability.
There have been leaks from Biden’s administration suggesting that some aides may have made decisions about automatic signatures that went beyond their authority. Recently, the Justice Department initiated an investigation into these claims, evaluating if Biden is sufficiently “competent” to sign executive orders.
In a memo directed to Attorney General Pam Bondy, Trump pointed fingers at White House aides for allegedly using autopens to disguise Biden’s cognitive decline and his authority.
Biden responded firmly to the investigations, stating, “I have made decisions about pardons, executive orders, laws, and declarations. The suggestion that I did not do so is ridiculous and false.”
Some of Biden’s signatures, particularly pertaining to his son Hunter’s pardon, showed signs of being hand-signed, suggesting a personal touch. However, other signatures appeared consistent with autopen usage, indicating possible mechanical assistance in the signing process.
Hunter Biden’s pardons included significant legal issues, even addressing a felony conviction from 2018 related to firearms. The investigation is looking particularly at the pardons involving several family members.
Trump emphasized the sameness of signatures produced by an autopen, pointing out that they lack the variation inherent in human handwriting. An analysis claimed that nearly all of Biden’s signatures on official documents during his presidency showed signs of autopen use.
In total, Biden signed 162 executive actions while in office, a notable figure in the context of presidential history. Concurrently, House Republicans, led by oversight committee chair James Comer, are launching their own investigation into alleged deceptions related to Biden’s administration and mental acuity.
Trump reflected on how aides in his White House leveraged the autopen for various matters, underscoring the degree of oversight and control that can come with such mechanisms.
In closing, he reiterated, “They are criminals, and we must never forget what they did to our country, and hopefully, as criminals, they will pay a price for what they are doing.”
