HomePoliticsBiden Autopen Pardons Scandal: Chief of Staff Approves Fauci, Milley Clemency Amid Trump Fury

Biden Autopen Pardons Scandal: Chief of Staff Approves Fauci, Milley Clemency Amid Trump Fury

Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson

July 14, 2025

3 min read

Brief

Biden’s chief of staff approved autopen pardons for Fauci and Milley, sparking controversy and Trump’s claims of a historic scandal over executive authority.

In a stunning turn of events, the final days of Joe Biden's presidency have been overshadowed by controversy over the use of an autopen for high-profile pardons. Reports reveal that Biden’s Chief of Staff, Jeff Zients, gave the green light for the automated signing of preemptive pardons for notable figures like Anthony Fauci and Gen. Mark Milley. This move, allegedly aimed at shielding them from potential retribution under the incoming administration, has sparked a fierce debate over the legitimacy of such actions.

President Donald Trump has been vocal, labeling these autopen-signed pardons as ‘void’ and accusing Biden of being unaware of the documents he was endorsing through the device. Trump has gone as far as calling this one of the ‘biggest scandals in decades,’ suggesting a cover-up regarding who truly held executive power in Biden’s waning days. The White House under Trump has echoed these sentiments, questioning Biden’s trustworthiness and hinting at deeper issues of cognitive decline.

On Biden’s last day in office, January 19, a late-night meeting reportedly finalized these controversial decisions. Emails indicate Zients explicitly approved the autopen’s use just minutes after receiving the summary of pardons. This raises serious questions about accountability and the ethical boundaries of using technology to execute presidential powers.

Adding fuel to the fire, Biden’s administration issued over 4,000 acts of clemency in his final months, a staggering 96% of his total pardons. Trump has since ordered an investigation into whether this reliance on autopen signatures reflects a broader manipulation of executive authority. As this saga unfolds, the American public is left to wonder: who was really signing on the dotted line?

Topics

Biden autopen pardonsTrump scandal claimsJeff Zients approvalFauci Milley pardonsexecutive authority controversyBiden final day pardonsPoliticsUS NewsExecutive Power

Editor's Comments

Well, folks, it seems Biden’s final act was less a signature move and more a robotic scribble! An autopen for pardons? That’s like letting a Roomba clean up a political mess—sure, it moves, but does it know what it’s doing? And with Trump calling this a ‘historic scandal,’ I can’t help but wonder if he’s just jealous he didn’t think of outsourcing signatures first. Behind the scenes, though, the real question isn’t the pen—it’s who was holding the power when the ink wasn’t even real.

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