In a Truth Social Post on Monday, President Donald Trump said former President Joe Biden’s autopen-signed orders were invalid, contending that recent discoveries by The Heritage Foundation’s Oversight Project render Biden’s pardons void.
“The ‘Pardons’ that Sleepy Joe Biden gave to the Unselect Committee of Political Thugs, and many others, are hereby declared VOID, VACANT, AND OF NO FURTHER FORCE OR EFFECT, because of the fact that they were done by Autopen,” wrote Trump.
Biden’s consistent use of an autopen e-signature during his presidency has become the talk of Washington in recent days, after an Oversight Project report called into question the validity and legal standing of Biden’s actions.
An autopen, or signing machine, is a device that reproduces a signature without the signatory having to be present.
The Heritage report called into question the legitimacy of numerous Biden orders signed by autopen, including Biden’s last-minute pardons of his family members, COVID-19 czar Anthony Fauci, Gen. Mark Milley, and the members of the Jan. 6 Committee; as well as multiple orders signed while he was on vacation.
Trump added in the post that he thinks those pardoned by autopen remain open to prosecution.
“The necessary Pardoning Documents were not explained to, or approved by, Biden. He knew nothing about them, and the people that did may have committed a crime,” he wrote.
“Therefore, those on the Unselect Committee, who destroyed and deleted ALL evidence obtained during their two year Witch Hunt of me, and many other innocent people, should fully understand that they are subject to investigation at the highest level.”
Some Republicans were quick to back up the president’s argument.
The office of Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Texas, wrote on X after the Truth Social post, “Joe Biden’s autopen signature was used a STAGGERING amount for pardons and important documents. … 46th President: Biden’s Autopen.”
Conservative commentator Dinesh D’Souza responded to Trump’s post: “It’s time to give Joe Biden a cognitive test and a lie-detector test. I’m curious to know if he can still recall his multiplication tables from third grade.”