Donald Trump has labeled pardons issued by his successor, Joe Biden, as legally invalid, arguing that they were neither properly reviewed nor authorized.
Before leaving office, Biden granted clemency to various political figures, including members of the Congressional select committee investigating the January 6, 2021, Capitol Hill riot, claiming they could face unfair legal actions under a potential second Trump term.
In a Truth Social post on Monday, Trump slammed the pardons as “VOID, VACANT, AND OF NO FURTHER FORCE OR EFFECT,” accusing Biden of being completely unaware of the pardons. “Biden didn’t sign them and was, more importantly, completely unaware of them,” he said.
The validity of these pardons has been questioned after the Oversight Project, part of the conservative Heritage Foundation, raised concerns about the use of an autopen device for signing documents during Biden’s presidency. The report suggested, “Whoever controlled the autopen controlled the presidency.”
While US law doesn’t mandate that the president personally signs every document, doubts have grown due to Biden’s aging health in recent years, with critics suggesting staff might have misused the situation to exercise presidential powers without his knowledge.
Trump further alleged that members of the January 6 committee may have secured their own pardons behind Biden’s back. “The necessary Pardoning Documents were not explained to, or approved by, Biden. He had no idea about them, and those who did may have committed a crime,” Trump declared.
At a recent Department of Justice speech, the former president echoed similar sentiments, condemning Biden’s use of the autopen as “disrespectful to the office” and even suggesting it might not be legitimate.
Historical records show US presidents have used writing aids for over two hundred years, with Thomas Jefferson using a polygraph to copy letters in the early 1800s. During George W. Bush’s presidency, the administration argued that the autopen could legally stand in for a president’s signature on bills.
