Former President Joe Biden has confirmed that he relied on an autopen to issue thousands of sweeping pardons and commutations during his final weeks in office—a move that has reignited controversy over his administration’s transparency and handling of executive authority.
In a candid interview with The New York Times, Biden and his aides admitted that he did not personally review or approve each individual clemency case. Instead, he approved criteria that were used to determine eligibility for mass pardons. From there, aides executed the approvals using an autopen—a mechanical device that replicates his signature.
“Mr. Biden did not individually approve each name for the categorical pardons that applied to large numbers of people,” the Times reported. “Rather, after extensive discussion of different possible criteria, he signed off on the standards he wanted.”
Despite that, Biden insisted he remained in control of the process:
“I made every decision,” he said. “I gave oral permission for the categorical pardons.”
8,000 Pardons—But Only One Signature?
Biden’s defenders argue it would have been logistically impossible for him to manually approve the over 8,000 clemency actions—more than any other modern president. For context, President Donald Trump issued fewer than 300 such actions during his first term.
Still, critics say the process raises serious questions about whether Biden or his staff were effectively wielding executive authority.
Congressional Republicans and the Trump-led Department of Justice have launched investigations into the practice, alleging that the autopen was used not for convenience—but to mask Biden’s declining mental state.
“In recent months, it has become increasingly apparent that former President Biden’s aides abused the power of Presidential signatures through the use of an autopen to conceal Biden’s cognitive decline,” President Trump wrote in a memo to Attorney General Pam Bondi.
“This conspiracy marks one of the most dangerous and concerning scandals in American history.”
Autopen and Accountability
Critics argue that using the autopen on documents involving life-altering pardons and commutations strips the process of personal accountability—and could represent a breach of constitutional norms.
Rep. James Comer, chair of the House Oversight Committee, said his panel is actively investigating the issue:
“The House Oversight Committee will continue pursuing answers about this historic scandal to prevent such an abuse from happening again,” Comer told Axios.
Adding fuel to the fire, Biden’s personal physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, recently invoked the Fifth Amendment multiple times during testimony before the Oversight Committee when asked about Biden’s health. His legal team insisted the move was to protect confidential medical information, but critics saw it as another sign of a broader cover-up.
Political Fallout
The controversy has inflamed tensions as Biden’s political legacy is reassessed. Supporters call the mass pardons a historic act of justice reform. Detractors argue the autopen episode is yet another symptom of a presidency they claim was largely run by staff behind closed doors.
With Republican scrutiny intensifying and the 2026 midterms looming, Biden’s autopen may become more than a technical tool—it could be a political flashpoint for months to come.