Pro-energy group requests investigation into Biden's autopen usage
A pro-energy group called Power the Future has asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate whether former President Joe Biden used an autopen to sign important energy-related executive orders. An autopen is a machine that replicates a person's signature. The group is questioning the validity of Biden's orders, especially those that paused permits for liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports and banned new drilling in certain waters. They believe these actions might have been taken without Biden’s full knowledge. Former President Donald Trump has also claimed that Biden's pardons should be considered "void" because they may have been signed using an autopen. Trump suggested that if the orders were indeed signed without Biden's awareness, they could be challenged in court. Recent remarks from Speaker Mike Johnson indicated that Biden seemed to forget pausing LNG exports during a conversation. According to reports, key White House advisor John Podesta may have played a role in this decision. The use of an autopen has drawn attention, particularly after Trump’s comments about its legitimacy. The U.S. legal framework allows the president to use an autopen for signing documents, but concerns about Biden’s ability to manage his executive orders have been raised by various sources.