Biden Defends Autopen Use Amid Republican Investigations Into Mental Fitness and Pardons
In a rare sit-down with The New York Times, former President Joe Biden defended his decision to authorize the broad use of his autopen during the final hours of his presidency. Biden stated plainly, “I made every decision,” referring to a series of last-minute clemency orders that were signed electronically rather than by his hand.
The interview comes at a time when Republican leaders in both chambers of Congress, along with President Trump’s Department of Justice, are deep into investigations probing whether Biden’s advanced age impacted his ability to effectively serve as president. Some lawmakers are zeroing in on whether the use of the autopen—an automated device that reproduces a person’s signature—was used inappropriately, bypassing necessary presidential oversight.
Among the most vocal critics is House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.), who is leading the charge to uncover what he describes as “an abuse of executive authority.” According to Comer, the investigation aims to ensure such actions are never repeated.
One area under scrutiny is Biden’s decision to reduce sentences for nearly 4,000 federal inmates in the final days of his term. Many of those pardons, including some involving Biden’s own family members, were reportedly signed via autopen.
Newly released internal emails obtained by The New York Times add to the intrigue. On January 19—just one day before Trump was sworn into office—then-Chief of Staff Jeff Zients sent an internal message approving the autopen for executing multiple clemency orders. While Biden told the Times he did not personally approve each individual pardon, he maintained that he set the framework for those decisions after holding lengthy meetings with senior staff.
“Look, I understand why Trump thinks I didn’t make those calls—he doesn’t pay attention,” Biden quipped in the interview. “But yes, I made every single one of those decisions.”
The former president’s interview, which lasted only 10 minutes, was his first with the Times since he entered office in 2021. His limited public appearances have fueled further speculation about his mental acuity, with aides often attributing his communication difficulties to a childhood stutter. Critics, however, argue it reflects a larger pattern of cognitive decline.
As the investigation intensifies, current and former Biden staffers are being called in for questioning. Notably, Biden’s former White House physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, invoked his Fifth Amendment rights during a recent deposition, raising additional concerns on Capitol Hill.
In a statement to Axios, Chairman Comer pledged to continue pursuing the matter, calling it a “historic scandal” that demands full accountability. Meanwhile, more Biden-era aides are scheduled to testify in the coming weeks, potentially shedding further light on the internal operations of a presidency now under heavy scrutiny.
Adding a new layer to the inquiry, the Trump administration has waived executive privilege for these aides, clearing a path for investigators to obtain candid testimony without the usual legal roadblocks.
As more details emerge, what started as a question about a mechanical pen may now evolve into a broader investigation into presidential competency, transparency, and accountability at the highest level of government.
