Republicans are looking to investigate former President Joe Biden’s use of autopens. They’re questioning whether he directly acknowledged any broad, possibly unconstitutional actions regarding the pardons for family members connected to the January 6th events. It’s unclear if these decisions were made by him or if someone else was steering the ship. If he didn’t personally sign off on various documents, should they even be considered valid?
The House has stated that the Committee on Supervisory Board and the Committee on Government Reform will delve into Biden’s utilization of autopen for documents like amnesty issued just before he took office. Representative James Komer (R-Ky.) indicated there are plans to summon former aides Annie Tomasini, Anthony Bernal, and Ashley Williams for their roles, suggesting they interfered on Biden’s behalf.
Meanwhile, Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) is pushing for a deeper inquiry. He proposes holding a hearing to assess Biden’s health and capabilities, wanting to speak with those close to him. As he mentioned, “We need to figure out who was really running the government.”
The Department of Justice has taken notice, particularly under new leadership. Ed Martin, a key figure, seems to be a topic of interest. There’s speculation that Democrats may soon regret blocking his previous appointment.
This situation goes beyond mere politics. Reports have emerged about a significant number of pardons executed through batch autopen signatures, raising doubts about Biden’s direct involvement.
The inquiries stem from concerns regarding Biden’s mental decline, highlighted in a recent piece—referred to as “original sin”—by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson. This work revealed extreme efforts to keep Biden’s deterioration under wraps.
Add to that the audio of Robert Hart’s interview with Biden, portraying him as “an elderly man with bad memories.” This raises even more questions about leadership during Biden’s term. It appears increasingly likely that he might not have been in charge.
For example, there was a situation where Biden didn’t recall a major policy shift he supposedly initiated, instead denying it entirely. Additionally, reports suggest he often relied on note cards and struggled to stay engaged during discussions on crucial topics. It’s likely someone else was drafting those notes and providing him with talking points.
In a noteworthy February 2024 Oval Office meeting, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) had a confusing exchange with Biden about a natural gas export pause. After Biden denied doing it, Johnson reminded him of an executive order he had signed weeks prior, only for Biden to insist the order didn’t require any suspension.
Johnson has voiced concerns over who is truly running the country, emphasizing, “I don’t know who placed the paper in front of him, but he didn’t know.” Such encounters not only signify Biden’s declining capabilities but also reflect uncertainty in significant negotiations, as seen with then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy in 2023.
The question remains about who truly reviewed and approved policies and decisions purportedly made by the president. This inquiry isn’t merely a fishing expedition. Citizens deserve clarity on whether these rules have been enacted without Biden’s consent or awareness.
Previous reports by the Heritage Foundation raise similar concerns, positing that the Constitution designates the power of pardon solely to the President. Challenges surrounding Biden’s legacy appear to be in their early stages, and only time will tell how this unfolds.
