Former President Joe Biden has addressed the growing autopen controversy in a recent interview. He strongly defended his decision to use the device during his final weeks in office.
Biden clarified his reasoning. The discussion focused on his use of the autopen while approving clemency orders for over 1,500 individuals.
This act, according to the White House, marked the largest single-day clemency event in U.S. presidential history. Biden emphasized that he personally made all decisions related to the pardons. “We’re talking about a whole lot of people,” Biden told the Times. He insisted that no one made decisions for him.
However, the Times revealed a more complex process. Biden reportedly approved broad criteria instead of each individual case. After reviewing detailed recommendations, he authorized a standard. This guideline determined who qualified for sentence reductions.
To streamline the process, his staff used an autopen to sign the finalized documents. They aimed to avoid burdening the president with re-signing every revision. This efficiency method has now become the center of the autopen controversy. Critics, especially Republican leaders, are demanding more transparency.
In June, Donald Trump issued a memo to the Justice Department. He directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate the autopen’s use. Trump alleged it may indicate cognitive decline in the former president. He argued that Biden’s team may have exploited the tool to mask his condition.
Therefore, calling it one of America’s most dangerous scandals, Trump expressed deep concern. He claimed that Biden’s autopen signature enabled sweeping policy changes without accountability.
Also in June, Trump criticized the method during a press conference. “I think it’s inappropriate,” he said. He argued that high-level appointees deserve a genuine presidential signature. Trump added, “An ambassador gives years of service. They deserve a real signature, not a mechanical one.”
In short, As the autopen controversy unfolds, political tensions continue rising. Biden’s defenders insist the process was legal, thoughtful, and efficient. However, opponents believe the issue reflects deeper problems in executive governance. The debate over presidential signatures has now sparked a broader conversation about transparency and trust in leadership.
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