Biden White House Autopen Use on Pardons Questioned by Officials

Autopen Use in Final Days

• 📝 A memorandum obtained by NewsNation details questions raised by Biden White House officials regarding the use of the autopen for pardons and clemencies in the administration's final days.
• 🔍 The document includes excerpts of old emails that explore who knew what and when concerning the autopen's application.

Concerns Raised by DOJ

• ⚠️ The Department of Justice reportedly raised issues about the legitimacy of some pardons granted.
• ⚖️ Contrary to White House claims that pardons were for non-violent offenses, the DOJ found that some involved violent criminals.
• 🗣️ Troublingly, the victims of these crimes were reportedly not contacted by the Biden White House to hear their perspectives.

Presidential Authority and Autopen Precedent

• 🏛️ Article 2 of the Constitution vests pardon authority solely in the President of the United States, not the White House staff.
• ✍️ While presidents like Obama and Trump have also used autopens, the context of its use for pardons in Biden's final days has drawn scrutiny.

Broader Concerns on Presidential Health and Reform

• 🩺 The discussion touches on broader concerns about presidential health, drawing a parallel to Woodrow Wilson's stroke and the subsequent hidden period of his presidency.
• 📈 There's a call for more safeguards and reforms to ensure the presidency is handled with better care and that the president is fully in charge of their faculties.
• ⚖️ One commentator suggests the presidential pardon power itself has been abused too much and should be reconsidered.