In a war of words, former Presidents Joe Biden and Donald Trump are at loggerheads over Biden's use of an autopen to sign pardons. Trump, alongside Republicans, has criticised Biden, claiming the practice undermines the validity of the pardons, while Biden defends the method as entirely legitimate.

 

During an interview, Biden stated he personally authorised all clemency and pardon decisions, which involved using an autopen for vast batches based on predefined categories. These decisions included pardoning nonviolent offenders and issuing commutations for those on home confinement. Biden clarified that, while categories and standards were set, he was personally involved in decisions about high-profile cases.

 

The controversy hit a peak with Biden's December pardons, including his son, Hunter Biden, who faced charges for tax evasion and federal gun offences. Additionally, he preemptively pardoned others potentially targeted by the incoming Trump administration, a move that stirred debate. Biden insists the approach was straightforward, aiming to alleviate systemic judicial burdens while abiding by constitutional norms.

 

Trump, conversely, contends Biden's autopen usage for pardons is a "tremendous scandal". He argues it raises questions about whether Biden was aware of what he was signing. Trump's allegations follow his previous claims that the Biden team mishandled decisions during his presidency, something Biden robustly refutes.

 

In June, Trump instructed Attorney General Pam Bondi to probe Biden's mental fitness and delve into the implications of using an autopen. Biden, however, stands firm, highlighting the autopen's legality and its use by former presidents, including Trump himself, for non-essential documents.

 

As the debate unfolds, Senate Republicans have announced a probe into Biden's mental fitness and operational decisions during his presidency. The inquiry will scrutinise the use of autopen and the overall decision-making process, maintaining political tensions between the two camps.

 

The exchange between Biden and Trump has been intense. Biden accuses Trump and Republicans of deflecting attention from failures by fabricating claims about his decisions. Meanwhile, Trump again insisted, sans concrete evidence, that Biden was unaware of what was being signed during his term.

 

Ultimately, the ongoing debates underscore the growing divide in American politics, portraying Biden's actions as either legal expedience or procedural negligence, depending on which side of the aisle one's opinion lies. As investigations proceed, both sides remain entrenched in their positions, contributing to the ongoing political drama.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from ABC NEWS 2025-07-15

 

 

Just another distraction from the true "tremendous scandal" of Trump in the Epstein files.

But it is ok for Trump to attend Epstein's "parties"?

In the real world, what constitutes a "tremendous scandal" is pardoning terrorists who attacked the US Capitol to both overturn the results of an election as well as hang the Vice President.

 

"Some people" are saying that is the greatest scandal in US history. "Nobody" can do tremendous scandal better than him.

It was common to use that pen in all former govt.

16 minutes ago, Wingate said:

In the real world, what constitutes a "tremendous scandal" is pardoning terrorists who attacked the US Capitol to both overturn the results of an election as well as hang the Vice President.

 

"Some people" are saying that is the greatest scandal in US history. "Nobody" can do tremendous scandal better than him.

These "Some People" must be the best minds in the world.  Look how the captured your mind.

Biden knows about time management.He had more important things to do rather than sit in front of the camera (surrounded by staff who should be working) signing numerous executive orders that he does not know the content of and then off for three days to rip of the country playing, sorry cheating at golf.

12 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

It was common to use that pen in all former govt.

Yep, just like it was used in the Biden regime.  What a stupid remark.  4500 Pardons.   Show me where anything near 4500 Pardons from a previous government.  It was a free for all to think of someone and just pardon them. Who else used pre-empted pardons?

48 minutes ago, Zaphod Priest said:

Just another distraction from the true "tremendous scandal" of Trump in the Epstein files.

You anti Trumpers never cared about the Epstein files until now. Hypocrite

3 minutes ago, Paul Henry said:

Biden knows about time management.He had more important things to do rather than sit in front of the camera (surrounded by staff who should be working) signing numerous executive orders that he does not know the content of and then off for three days to rip of the country playing, sorry cheating at golf.

Hahahah, that is the funniest thing i have read so far..  

Let me sum it up.

Someone in the Biden administration issued pardons, but it wasn't Biden.  

Will anything be done?  "No."  End of story.

6 minutes ago, frank83628 said:

Hahahah, that is the funniest thing i have read so far..  

 

You should get out more, then you may have some more fun every day, though we know Russia is a very depressing country.

Just now, CallumWK said:

 

You should get out more, then you may have some more fun every day, though we know Russia is a very depressing country.

Not in Russia though. Keep up.

15 minutes ago, thaipo7 said:

Yep, just like it was used in the Biden regime.  What a stupid remark.  4500 Pardons.   Show me where anything near 4500 Pardons from a previous government.  It was a free for all to think of someone and just pardon them. Who else used pre-empted pardons?

I commented about using that kind of pen. 

But you drifted to another subject. Sad🥴

Harry S. Truman was the first U.S. president to use an autopen. In March 2025, President Trump, admited that he sometimes uses an autopen.

It is a tool. 

Just now, Purdey said:

Harry S. Truman was the first U.S. president to use an autopen. In March 2025, President Trump, admited that he sometimes uses an autopen.

It is a tool. 

Yes, but Trump makes the decisions when its used, unlike Biden who did nt have the mental capacity to make any decisions

Next distraction...

 

Biden used an auto-pen to create the fake Epstein files.

 

 

 

Just now, frank83628 said:

Yes, but Trump makes the decisions when its used, unlike Biden who did nt have the mental capacity to make any decisions

Hope they reveal the "Autopen Papers" then, with proof.

You can be on whatever side of the table you want to be but theres a reason that the only one he signed by hand was The artist's.
Don't cha wonder why?

29 minutes ago, thaipo7 said:

Show me where anything near 4500 Pardons from a previous government.

 

Franklin D. Roosevelt granted 3,796.

i call it high treason, what do you call it?

29 minutes ago, Purdey said:

Harry S. Truman was the first U.S. president to use an autopen. In March 2025, President Trump, admited that he sometimes uses an autopen.

It is a tool. 

When you say 'it' are you referring to Trump or the autopen?

59 minutes ago, thaipo7 said:

These "Some People" must be the best minds in the world.  Look how the captured your mind.

It seems you set the bar in a different place than I do for "tremendous scandal".

 

Then how about this:

 

A few thousand "lefties" storm the WH, erect a gallows on the South Lawn, chant about hanging the POTUS, break windows and rush inside, defecate on the floor in the Oval Office, etc. You know, "typical tourist behavior".

 

Would that constitute a tremendous scandal? How about if after prosecution and a new election, a Dem POTUS pardoned all of them?

"On whether pardons must be in writing or by the president’s own hand, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has said the ”plain language of the Constitution imposes no such limitation.” https://apnews.com/

So Trump DOJ elevate the issue to the SCOTUS. 

Doubt Biden was aware of even 1.

 

(Its from fox apparently)

Whats the deal  Biden's autopen knew more about governing,economy and running the country than Trump ever will.

1 hour ago, Purdey said:

Harry S. Truman was the first U.S. president to use an autopen. In March 2025, President Trump, admited that he sometimes uses an autopen.

It is a tool. 

It is a tool. Just lime Trump is.