U.S. President Donald Trump has instructed his administration to explore Joe Biden’s actions during his presidency, alleging that Biden’s aides concealed his “cognitive decline” and raising doubts about the validity of his use of the autopen for signing pardons and official documents.
This move signifies a significant escalation in Trump’s focus on his political opponents and could set the stage for claims that various decisions made by Biden as president are illegitimate. In response, Biden emphasized that he personally made all the decisions regarding pardons, executive orders, legislation, and proclamations during his term.
While Trump has questioned the use of the autopen by Biden, claiming that it undermined the proper exercise of presidential power, legal experts note that the use of autopens for signing official documents has been a common practice accepted by both Democratic and Republican administrations. The President’s power to grant pardons is constitutionally protected.
Trump’s directive involves Attorney General Pam Bondi and White House counsel David Warrington overseeing the investigation into Biden’s decisions and signatures, casting doubt on the authenticity of Biden’s presidential actions.
The extent to which Trump will pursue this investigation remains uncertain, given the potential legal challenges it may face. However, it reflects Trump’s continued focus on Biden, whom he believes unfairly defeated him in the 2020 election. Trump has also propagated unfounded conspiracy theories, including one suggesting that Biden was replaced by a robotic clone after his supposed death in 2020.
Moreover, Trump has criticized Biden’s use of the autopen, a device that replicates a person’s signature, arguing that it delegitimized the decision-making process. Biden issued pardons for family members and others before leaving office to shield them from potential legal repercussions under the Trump administration.
The ongoing scrutiny extends beyond Biden to include investigations into former officials who have criticized Trump, such as Chris Krebs and Miles Taylor. The Republican-led House oversight committee has requested interviews with Biden aides to probe potential cover-ups and questionable decision-making processes within the White House.
Republicans are eager to delve into the final executive actions of Biden’s presidency, suggesting that certain federal rules and pardons issued by the administration may lack legitimacy. Their inquiries are informed by claims made in a book by journalists Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, which raised concerns about Biden’s cognitive state and leadership within the White House.
While Biden and his family have vehemently denied allegations of cognitive decline and improper decision-making, the investigations and scrutiny persist, underscoring the ongoing political tensions between the two administrations.
