GOP Pushes Bill to Ban Autopen for Presidential Pardons After Trump Questions Biden’s Use

Breaking News: A House Republican has introduced a bill aimed at barring the use of the autopen—a mechanical signature device—for signing presidential pardons, following claims by former President Donald Trump that pardons issued by President Joe Biden were "void" due to their alleged autopen origin.

Rep. Buddy Carter of Georgia unveiled the Signature Integrity for Granting National Pardons (SIGN) Act on Friday, which mandates that presidential pardons be signed personally by the sitting president, not by any automated device. Carter stated, "Biden’s use of an autopen should automatically void his presidential pardons. The SIGN Pardons Act will restore the integrity of this important role in our justice system."

The proposed legislation comes amid a political firestorm ignited by Trump, who declared Biden’s late-term pardons "vacant," alleging they were signed via autopen. Trump has accused Biden of being unaware of the pardons, which reportedly included members of the House committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riot. In his Truth Social post, Trump described the pardons as "VOID, VACANT, AND OF NO FURTHER FORCE OR EFFECT" due to their autopen origin. He went on to question whether Biden had any knowledge or involvement in the pardoning process.

Carter criticized Biden’s use of the autopen, claiming that it "raises questions about who was really running the country during Biden’s term." The congressman even speculated about other decisions that Biden might have "outsourced" to machines or staff.

Adding fuel to the controversy, a Heritage Foundation report alleged that many official documents during Biden’s presidency bore autopen signatures. Meanwhile, energy watchdog group Power the Future has called for an investigation into Biden’s use of autopen for energy-related executive orders, suggesting these decisions might not have had Biden’s active involvement.

The legal precedent surrounding autopen usage isn’t entirely new. Back in 2005, the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel determined that presidents are permitted to use autopen for signing bills into law. However, a recent court ruling complicated matters further, stating that the absence of a handwritten signature doesn’t necessarily invalidate commutations or pardons.

While the Biden administration has yet to respond to these allegations, Trump’s bold assertion and the proposed GOP legislation are sure to reignite debates over accountability and transparency in presidential decision-making.