The White House is currently reviewing over one million documents that were signed using an autopen during Joe Biden’s presidency. This investigation is being led by the White House Counsel’s Office, which is looking into how Biden and his staff used this signing method. The National Archives has already provided a significant number of documents from Biden’s time in office for this review.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt criticized Biden, claiming he was an incompetent president who allowed unelected staff to make decisions in his name. She emphasized the need for transparency regarding Biden’s health and his direct involvement in the decisions reflected in the documents.
Officials are particularly interested in understanding what actions Biden personally directed versus those that were decided by his staff. They argue that the autopen should only be used when the president has explicitly approved something or requested it.
Recently, it came to light that Biden did not personally approve many of the pardons and clemency decisions he made at the end of his term. He told The New York Times that he had instructed his staff to compile a list of individuals for pardons based on specific criteria. However, the final list was signed using the autopen without his direct approval.
Biden defended the use of the autopen, stating that he was still making all the important decisions, especially considering the large number of people affected. This review is happening alongside two other investigations by the House Oversight Committee and the Department of Justice, which are also looking into the use of the autopen during Biden’s presidency. The White House Counsel’s Office is coordinating with the Justice Department in these efforts.