Former US President Donald Trump has taken action to revoke all documents, including executive orders, contracts, and legal pardons, that were signed by autopen during the Biden administration. Trump, aged 79, made this announcement on his personal social media platform on Wednesday, December 3.
In his statement on Truth Social, the 47th US president declared that any documents signed by the ‘AUTOPEN’ during Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s administration are now considered null and void. He emphasized that any legal documents, such as pardons or commutations, signed using the autopen are no longer valid.
During a recent visit from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Trump showcased the “Biden autopen” prominently displayed in the White House. The Mirror US reported that the Trump administration replaced Biden’s portrait in the Presidential Walk of Fame near the Oval Office with an image of an autopen.
Before leaving office, former President Joe Biden issued multiple pardons to protect his family members, including his son Hunter and brother James, from potential future charges related to ongoing investigations. Other preemptive pardons were granted to members of Congress and public figures like Anthony Fauci, America’s Director of Infectious Diseases, to safeguard them from possible retaliatory prosecutions by Trump upon his return to power.
Trump’s recent decision to cancel autopen-signed documents stems from his persistent claims of addressing what he refers to as “the entire Biden crime family” and their associates. He has criticized the Biden administration and alleged electoral fraud as reasons for his loss in the 2020 election, with this autopen move seemingly aimed at erasing that historical defeat.
The move has garnered support from Trump’s Republican allies, who have praised his actions on social media platforms. The Heritage Foundation, a right-wing think tank, expressed gratitude to Trump for taking action based on their Autopen investigation. James Comer, a GOP-led House Oversight committee chair and Republican congressman, also commended Trump for annulling autopen-signed files.
Biden has refuted allegations that his aides acted independently when granting pardons and commutations, asserting that he personally signed each document. Despite claims suggesting otherwise, Biden dismissed the accusations as falsehoods and affirmed his direct involvement in the pardoning process.