Donald Trump claims Biden’s pardons for Jan. 6 investigators are invalid due to autopen use. Legal experts reject his argument, citing presidential clemency powers. Figures like Adam Schiff and Liz Cheney were pardoned. Trump’s statement fuels political tensions ahead of the 2024 election.
Former President Donald Trump has challenged the legitimacy of President Joe Biden’s pardons for members of the House select committee investigating the January 6 attack, arguing they are “void” because Biden used an autopen. Trump claimed Truth Social, suggesting Biden had no direct involvement in the process.
However, legal scholars dismissed Trump's argument, pointing to the U.S. Constitution, which grants presidents broad clemency powers without specifying how pardons must be signed. A 2005 Justice Department opinion, issued under President George W. Bush, confirmed that autopen signatures are legally binding. Biden and past presidents, including Barack Obama, have used the device for official documents.
Trump’s remarks align with recent claims by conservative groups questioning Biden’s decision-making. The pardons in question, issued in Biden’s final days in office, protected figures such as Adam Schiff, Liz Cheney, and Dr. Anthony Fauci from potential prosecution under Trump’s administration.
Adam Kinzinger, a former congressman and pardon recipient, responded sarcastically on social media, challenging Trump’s claims. Despite Trump’s rhetoric, there is no precedent for a president revoking a predecessor’s pardons. As Trump eyes a potential return to the White House, his statements continue to fuel political tensions over the January 6 investigation.
