A bombshell revelation about former President Joe Biden's final days in office has ignited a fierce debate about the legitimacy of thousands of pardons issued during his administration's closing moments.
According to Fox News, Jeff Zients, Biden's chief of staff, gave the final authorization for using an autopen to sign multiple high-profile pardons, including those for Dr. Anthony Fauci and Gen. Mark Milley, on January 19.
The revelation comes amid growing scrutiny of the Biden administration's use of the automated signing device, which President Donald Trump has consistently challenged as potentially void. This development raises serious questions about the decision-making process behind thousands of clemency acts granted during Biden's final months in office.
The controversial pardons emerged from a late-night meeting on January 19, where Biden and his aides discussed various preemptive pardons until nearly 10 p.m. Following the meeting, a series of emails documented the rapid approval process for using the autopen.
At 10:28 p.m., Zients' assistant circulated an email requesting approval from both Zients and White House deputy chief of staff Bruce Reed. Within three minutes, Zients responded with explicit authorization for the autopen's use on all listed pardons.
The hasty nature of these approvals has sparked debate about the constitutional implications of delegating presidential pardon authority. Legal experts are questioning whether such delegation undermines the president's exclusive power to grant pardons.
President Trump has characterized Biden's autopen usage as "possibly one of the biggest scandals that we've had in 50 to 100 years." He has expressed strong skepticism about Biden's awareness of the documents being signed.
The White House, under Trump's leadership, has initiated a formal investigation into the matter. Attorney General Pam Bondi has been directed to examine whether the autopen's usage was connected to concerns about Biden's cognitive abilities.
White House spokesperson Harrison Fields has accused the Biden administration of conducting "the most egregious cover-up scheme in American politics." The administration maintains that the truth about who was actually running the country will eventually emerge.
Statistics reveal that Biden granted 4,245 acts of clemency during his administration, with an astounding 96% of these occurring between October 2024 and January 2025. This concentrated surge of pardons has raised eyebrows among political observers.
The autopen, a device capable of physically replicating signatures using various writing instruments, has become central to the controversy. Unlike digital signatures or stamps, it creates actual pen-to-paper signatures that are difficult to distinguish from genuine ones.
These revelations have prompted broader discussions about the proper use of automated signing technology in executive actions. Legal scholars are debating the constitutional implications of delegating such significant presidential powers.
The impact of these revelations continues to reverberate through Washington's political landscape. The controversy has exposed potential vulnerabilities in executive branch protocols regarding presidential signatures and delegation of authority.
The Trump administration has intensified its scrutiny of the autopen issue, suggesting it may lead to a comprehensive review of all clemency actions approved during Biden's final months. Congressional oversight committees are also considering investigations into the matter.
The situation highlights the delicate balance between administrative efficiency and constitutional requirements in modern governance. As technology advances, questions about the legitimate use of automated systems in executive functions become increasingly relevant.
