House Republican Seeks to Ban Autopen Use for Presidential Pardons After Trump Alleges Biden Abuse
Washington, D.C. – In the wake of allegations from former President Donald Trump that President Joe Biden improperly used an autopen to sign presidential pardons, a House Republican is spearheading an effort to restrict the use of the mechanical device for such actions. Representative Buddy Carter, a Republican representing Georgia, is set to introduce the Signature Integrity for Granting National Pardons (SIGN) Act on Friday. The legislation, exclusively shared with Fox News Digital, aims to ensure that all presidential pardons are personally signed by the sitting president, explicitly prohibiting the use of mechanical signatures, such as those produced by an autopen.
Carter emphasized the need for the bill, stating that Biden’s alleged use of an autopen should automatically render his presidential pardons invalid. "The SIGN Pardons Act will restore the integrity of this important role in our justice system, ensuring that all pardons are physically signed by the Commander-in-Chief," Carter told Fox News Digital.
The move by Carter comes days after Trump publicly declared Biden’s 11th-hour presidential pardons "void" and "vacant" following reports that they were signed using an autopen, a device capable of replicating a person’s signature. The controversy has ignited a debate about the legitimacy and appropriateness of using such technology for critical presidential actions.
Trump took to Truth Social on Sunday night to claim that Biden was unaware of the pardons signed in the final days of his term, which reportedly included pardons for members of the House committee that investigated the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
"The Pardons that Sleepy Joe Biden gave to the Unselect Committee of Political Thugs, and many others, are hereby declared VOID, VACANT, AND OF NO FURTHER FORCE OR EFFECT, because of the fact that they were done by Autopen," Trump wrote in his post. He further alleged, "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."
Trump’s White House has stated that he does not use an autopen for legally binding documents such as pardons.
Carter echoed Trump’s concerns, raising questions about Biden’s involvement in key decisions. "This irresponsible use of technology raises questions about who was really running the country during Biden’s term," Carter added. "If Biden outsourced this constitutional duty to staff and machines, what other major decisions was he absent for?"
The debate over the use of the autopen extends beyond pardons. Power the Future, an energy watchdog group, recently sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, urging her to investigate whether Biden also signed energy-related executive orders via autopen and if such actions were instituted with the president’s knowledge.
The Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel issued an opinion in 2005 that a president is permitted to use an autopen to sign bills into law. Furthermore, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit issued a ruling in February stating that the absence of a handwritten signature does not necessarily invalidate a commutation.
The legal precedents, however, have not quelled the controversy surrounding the alleged use of the autopen by President Biden. Critics argue that the personal nature of a presidential pardon requires the president’s direct involvement and signature.
The SIGN Act introduced by Rep. Carter is the latest attempt to limit the use of the autopen in governmental actions. It remains to be seen whether the legislation will gain sufficient support in Congress to become law.
The debate highlights the evolving challenges of adapting traditional practices to modern technology. While the autopen can improve efficiency and speed up administrative processes, its use raises concerns about accountability, transparency, and the personal involvement of elected officials in critical governmental functions. The controversy surrounding Biden’s alleged use of the autopen and the proposed legislation by Rep. Carter are sure to fuel a broader conversation about the role of technology in governance and the appropriate limits on its use.
This debate could have further implications regarding future elections.
Regardless, the SIGN Pardons Act faces a difficult path toward approval, given the current political landscape. However, the legislation underscores growing concerns about presidential powers, checks and balances, and the use of technology in government.
Fox News Digital reached out to Biden’s office for comment, but has not received a response.
