Donald Trump has sparked a new controversy concerning the legality of former President Joe Biden's recent pardons.
Trump argues that these pardons are void because an autopen signed them without Biden's knowledge, Fox News reported.
These pardons included a wide range of recipients such as General Mark A. Milley, and Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, as well as members and staff of the House Select Committee and police officers who testified regarding the January 6 Capitol riot. Trump contends these signatures are invalid if autopen-operated, complicating the legal standing of the pardons.
Posted on Truth Social, Trump's allegations have not just questioned the authenticity of the pardons but also the integrity of its recipients, calling them "Unselect Committee of Political Thugs." He suggests a deeper investigation into these signed documents, hinting at potential illegal activities involved in their approval.
Trump explained in his post, "In other words, Joe Biden did not sign them but, more importantly, he did not know anything about them! The necessary Pardoning Documents were not explained to, or approved by, Biden. He knew nothing about them, and the people that did may have committed a crime."
Donald Trump elaborated on the implications this situation might have on those involved:
Therefore, those on the Unselect Committee, who destroyed and deleted ALL evidence obtained during their two-year Witch Hunt of me, and many other innocent people, should fully understand that they are subject to investigation at the highest level. The fact is, they were probably responsible for the Documents that were signed on their behalf without the knowledge or consent of the Worst President in the History of our Country, Crooked Joe Biden!
The Heritage Foundation’s Oversight Project has echoed concerns over this method's use, stating that upon reviewing Biden's presidential documents, they identified repeated use of an autopen-like signature. According to their findings, nearly all signed documents during his tenure displayed similar autopen imprints.
The contentious matter has led the President-elect to refuse to take a definitive stand but suggested that "I think so. It's not my decision. That would be up to a court," when asked if these issues should be decided in court.
Biden, during his presidency, had commented on the character of the pardon recipients, saying, "These public servants have served our nation with honor and distinction and do not deserve to be the targets of unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions."
Amid these allegations, the legitimacy of autopen-signed documents during Biden’s administration has come under scrutiny.
This controversy not only questions the legality of executive actions but also poses significant implications for the individuals involved in these pardons, potentially exposing them to new judicial reviews.
Future legal proceedings could indeed determine the validity of these pardons, depending on whether courts find an autopen to be a legitimate tool for presidential signatures under these circumstances.
The ongoing debate propels these developments into the limelight, indicating a complex period ahead in terms of legal interpretations and political assertions regarding presidential decision-making processes. New precedents on the use of technological aids like the autopen in crucial governmental operations may emerge from this ordeal.
