Biden Addresses Autopen Usage Amid Controversy
Former President Joe Biden has recently discussed his decision to employ an autopen during a televised interview, providing insights into his administration’s justification for this contentious technology.
The conversation, hosted by the New York Times, focused on his application of the autopen while issuing pardons in the concluding days of his presidency.
In a notable act, Biden extended clemency to over 1,500 individuals, a move characterized by the White House as the largest mass clemency act in U.S. history executed by a sitting president.
During the interview, Biden asserted that he was responsible for every decision made during this period.
“We’re discussing clemency for a vast number of individuals,” he stated.
However, the Times highlighted that Biden “did not approve each individual name for the broad pardons” affecting many people, according to statements from him and his team.
The report indicated that, instead of reviewing each document, Biden established the criteria for who would receive clemency and then allowed his team to apply those standards broadly.
To streamline the process and avoid repeatedly requesting Biden’s signature on numerous official documents, an autopen was utilized for the final approval.
Biden’s remarks come amidst Republican criticism regarding his use of the autopen for a significant volume of official paperwork.
In June, former President Donald Trump issued a directive to the Department of Justice, instructing Attorney General Pam Bondi to probe the use of the autopen and explore potential links to Biden’s alleged cognitive decline.
“It has become increasingly evident that the use of the autopen by Biden’s aides was an attempt to mask his mental state while claiming presidential authority,” Trump stated.
He described the situation as a potential “conspiracy,” labeling it one of the most troubling scandals in American political history, asserting that the public was misled about the true exercise of executive power while Biden’s signature was stamped on countless documents for policy changes.
In June, Trump also expressed his disapproval of the autopen, though he acknowledged that previous presidents had employed similar methods.
“When important documents are presented for signatures, they warrant genuine attention,” Trump remarked. “Even for ambassadorial appointments, which I consider significant, an autopen signature seems inappropriate.”
This sentiment underscores the ongoing debate surrounding the use of technology in presidential duties and its implications for governance.
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