by Emmitt Barry, with reporting from Washington D.C. Bureau Staff
(Worthy News) – The U.S. Justice Department has launched a sweeping investigation into thousands of controversial last-minute pardons issued by former President Joe Biden, many of which were reportedly signed using an autopen device rather than by Biden himself.
Justice Department Pardon Attorney Ed Martin confirmed the probe in an internal email, stating the investigation would assess the legitimacy of the pardons and determine “whether the former president was competent and whether others were taking advantage of him through use of an autopen or other means.”
The presidential autopen — a mechanical device that electronically replicates a signature — is typically used sparingly and under strict controls within the West Wing. But watchdogs claim the Biden White House used it prolifically, including to sign legislation, executive orders, and thousands of pardons in his final days.
The Oversight Project, a nonpartisan government watchdog group, claims to have uncovered extensive autopen usage, estimating that more than half of the clemency warrants reviewed — covering 4,245 individuals — bore one of two electronic signatures.
“This wasn’t just a convenience — it was a cover-up,” said Oversight Project Director Mike Howell. “It points to potential criminal activity, including forgery, impersonation of a federal official, and possibly bribery.”
The pardons included commutations for convicted murderers, child killers, and even death row inmates. Among the most controversial were preemptive pardons granted to Biden’s younger brother James Biden, former White House COVID adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci, and retired Gen. Mark Milley — all issued as Biden left the White House for Trump’s inauguration.
President Donald Trump responded by calling Biden’s presidency “The AUTOPEN Administration,” saying, “Whoever was operating the autopen was acting as president — not Biden.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the Justice Department’s inquiry. “The American people deserve to know who was running the country during those final years,” she said.
Concerns about Biden’s cognitive fitness grew in recent months, fueled by anonymous quotes in a book by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Axios’ Alex Thompson, who reported top aides made key decisions on Biden’s behalf as his health declined. That reporting, combined with Biden’s recent stage four prostate cancer diagnosis, has intensified scrutiny.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) has pledged to subpoena Biden’s former physician and senior staff unless they testify voluntarily. “Americans demand transparency and accountability about who was calling the shots at the White House,” Comer told The Washington Times.
Despite Biden’s public denials — including a recent appearance on The View where he claimed “there is nothing to sustain” reports of cognitive impairment — legal experts warn the fallout could extend beyond the former president.
“Presidential immunity may shield Biden himself,” said Howell, “but his staff can and should be held accountable.”
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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