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The use of an autopen to authorize presidential pardons during Joe Biden’s time in office has come under intense scrutiny as congressional investigators move closer to completing their review.
The House Oversight Committee, led by chair James Comer, is wrapping up its probe into whether thousands of clemency decisions made under Biden were legitimate, following internal warnings about the autopen process, as Fox News reports.
The matter stems from reports that senior officials in Biden’s administration raised concerns in January 2021 about the legitimacy of pardons signed without direct involvement from the president. According to documents, the Department of Justice flagged possible risks in how clemency decisions were handled in Biden’s final days in office.
Questions raised over clemency grants
Biden approved nearly 2,500 commutations on Jan. 17, a number that set a presidential record for clemency actions in one day. The following day, a senior ethics lawyer at the Justice Department, Bradley Weinsheimer, noted that DOJ officials had not been given a proper chance to review many of the cases beforehand.
Weinsheimer later said that despite repeated requests, DOJ staff were unable to provide adequate input on individuals considered for pardons or commutations. He also acknowledged he did not know whether Biden himself had been aware of the full backgrounds of those who received clemency.
Among the cases flagged was that of at least one convicted murderer, whose file had raised concerns inside the Justice Department. The situation added to doubts over how carefully the White House team vetted applicants before finalizing the president’s signature.
White House emails highlight uncertainty
Internal emails reveal aides questioned the approval process. Stef Feldman, Biden’s staff secretary at the time, sent a message asking when the president had authorized specific clemency orders, underscoring uncertainty within the administration.
Former Biden chief of staff Jeff Zients was involved in signing off on drug-related clemency orders, according to documents released to investigators. He is expected to testify before the Oversight Committee as lawmakers seek further clarity on his role. In addition, former press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre is scheduled to participate in a closed-door interview with the Committee, further widening the inquiry into how executive decisions were managed within Biden’s circle of advisers.
Comer seeks accountability
Comer said new records revealed that Biden’s own administration questioned the use of the autopen for thousands of pardons. He called the matter a scandal of historic proportions with potentially wide-ranging consequences.
The congressman argued that as Biden’s mental acuity declined, aides acted in his place, casting doubt on whether certain executive actions were legitimate. He stressed that accountability must follow once the investigation concludes. In his words, “There must be accountability for this scandal,” emphasizing that the legitimacy of thousands of actions taken in the president’s name remains under question.
Trump slams autopen use
President Donald Trump weighed in on the towpic forcefully, calling the issue one of the largest scandals in modern U.S. history. On his social media platform, Trump compared it to what he described as past political hoaxes and the 2020 election, though he said it ranked slightly lower in magnitude.
Trump wrote that the “Biden autopen scandal” is among the most significant ever, signaling that the controversy is likely to remain a central talking point as Republicans push the narrative into the political arena.
Democrat voices, however, pushed back against the accusations. A former Biden White House staffer said Republicans often highlight Biden whenever they wish to distract from economic data linked to Trump’s record. The staffer pointed out that recent jobs reports have not been particularly favorable.
Debate over presidential power persists
Some Democrats have argued that the clemency power is constitutionally reserved for the president and is not overseen by the Justice Department. One former staffer said that while DOJ officials may raise objections, the final decision rests with the president alone.
Another staffer defended the process, saying the released emails show checks were in place to guide decision-making and support the president’s use of the autopen. They described it as a structured process rather than a lapse in oversight.
Still, concerns persist. DOJ officials have criticized the lack of consultation with victims’ families in some clemency cases, highlighting a broader debate about transparency and fairness in the pardon process.
Probe nearly complete
With testimony from former senior aides expected in the coming weeks, the House Oversight Committee is preparing to close its probe. Comer has pledged to release findings that clarify who was responsible for the use of the autopen and what level of oversight was applied.
The inquiry has already deepened partisan divisions. Republicans view the matter as evidence of weakened presidential authority, while Democrats portray it as a political distraction meant to undercut Biden’s record.
As the final report nears release, both parties are positioning the autopen controversy within larger narratives about executive power, accountability, and political credibility in Washington.
The post Comer says Biden autopen pardon probe nearing end as Trump blasts predecessor appeared first on Washington Digest.
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