Trump doesn’t use autopen for legally binding documents, unlike Biden, White House says
The controversy surrounding President Donald Trump’s accusations against former President Joe Biden for using an autopen to sign legally binding documents like pardons has taken a new turn. The White House has clarified that Trump himself does not use an autopen for such documents, contrary to Biden’s alleged practices.
A White House official confirmed that the official policy during Trump’s presidency was to use his hand signature on every legally operational document. Trump made a point to distinguish between using an autopen for correspondence and using it for significant documents like pardons, calling the latter “disgraceful.”
The issue of Biden’s alleged use of an autopen for executive orders and pardons has sparked debate, with Trump suggesting that these actions may render them void. The legality of using an autopen for such purposes has been addressed by the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, which have provided some guidance on the matter.
Trump’s social media post raising concerns about Biden’s pardons signed via autopen, including those for lawmakers involved in investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, has added fuel to the fire. Trump claimed that these pardons were void as Biden did not personally sign them and may not have had knowledge of their contents.
In response, a spokesperson for Biden declined to comment on the record. However, a report by the Oversight Project with The Heritage Foundation suggested that a majority of documents signed during Biden’s presidency used an autopen, raising questions about the control and approval of these actions.
The controversy surrounding Biden’s alleged use of an autopen for official documents has further deepened with Trump’s accusations and the ongoing debate over the legitimacy of such actions. As the political landscape continues to evolve, the implications of these actions on the integrity of the presidency and the legal validity of signed documents remain to be seen.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Diana Stancy, a politics reporter with Fox News Digital covering the White House, provided insights into this developing story.
