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The mechanical signature device known as the autopen, which received its first patent many years ago, has recently become a subject of political controversy due to US President Donald Trump‘s assertions about Joe Biden‘s alleged usage for signing pardons.Trump ordered an investigation Wednesday into whether former President Biden’s administration used an autopen machine to sign key presidential documents like pardons. In a memo signed Wednesday night, Trump told Attorney General Pam Bondi and the president’s counsel to probe what he claimed was a “conspiracy” to “abuse the power of Presidential signatures through the use of an autopen to conceal Biden’s cognitive decline.”
What is Autopen and how does it work?
An autopen is a mechanical device designed to recreate authentic signatures by physically manipulating a pen. Unlike stamps or digital signature prints, these machines can accommodate various writing instruments, from ballpoint pens to permanent markers, as listed in product specifications for commercially available autopens, Fox News reported.Contemporary autopen systems enable users to store signature patterns on portable devices like smart cards or USB drives for easy transfer to the machine. The signing process begins when a pen is inserted, and the signature is executed by pressing a button or using a foot pedal to activate the mechanism.
‘Autopen is biggest political scandal in American history’: Trump
In March, President Trump contested that if Biden employed an autopen for signing preemptive pardons for House select committee members who investigated the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, those pardons would be considered “void” and “vacant.”Earlier, President Trump reiterated his concerns on Truth Social, stating “With the exception of the RIGGED PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 2020, THE AUTOPEN IS THE BIGGEST POLITICAL SCANDAL IN AMERICAN HISTORY!!!”Interestingly, the device was also used to replicate a person’s signature and has been used by past presidents including Thomas Jefferson, John F Kennedy, and Barack Obama to sign ceremonial or routine documents when unavailable.The Heritage Foundation’s Oversight Project, a conservative organisation, has also scrutinised this matter, suggesting that Biden’s supposed autopen usage, considering his “clear cognitive decline … raises additional questions for investigators.”
Trump questions Biden’s pardons
In his concluding weeks as president, Biden extended clemency and pardons to over 1,500 people, which his administration characterised as the most extensive single-day clemency action by any American president. Questioning Biden’s mental acuity and decision-making authority, Trump asserted that he was unaware of the documents’ contents when using the automated signing device. This raised concerns about his cognitive state during his presidency and his direct involvement in official decisions. administration.While Biden personally signed his son Hunter’s pardon, the remaining pardons appear to have been executed using an autopen.Here is a list of the former president’s most controversial pardons:Hunter Biden: In December 2024, former President Joe Biden issued a pardon to his son Hunter, contradicting his earlier promises to the American public. Hunter Biden had been convicted of three felony firearm offences during Special Counsel David Weiss’ investigation, alongside federal tax charges for failing to pay over $1.4 million. Prior to his trial, Hunter entered an unexpected guilty plea.Biden pardons siblings: On January 19, 2025, just before leaving office, Biden granted clemency to his siblings James, Valerie, and Francis, along with their spouses. The pardons covered potential non-violent offences from January 1, 2014, through to the signing date. The House investigation revealed that Biden family members and associates had received over $27 million from foreign sources since 2014. Additionally, the family allegedly obtained more than $8 million in loans from Democratic supporters during Biden’s vice presidency.Gen. Mark Milley, Dr Anthony Fauci: On January 19, 2025, Biden also pardoned former General Mark Milley, Dr Anthony Fauci, and members of the January 6 House Select Committee. These pardons extended to committee staff and police officers who provided testimony. All pardons appeared to be signed using an autopen.
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