Trump disputes Biden's pardons, citing autopen signatures

President Donald Trump has raised concerns about the use of autopens by his predecessor, Joe Biden, in signing pardons. An autopen is a device that replicates a person's handwriting, commonly used by officials to save time on signing numerous documents. On March 17, Trump claimed he would ignore several pardons from Biden, suggesting they might not be valid if Biden had not personally signed them. Critics argue that using the autopen raises questions about whether Biden was aware these documents were being signed. Biden announced these pardons in January, stating he was exercising his constitutional authority. However, the use of an autopen has not been verified, and records regarding its use have been withheld under a statute that prevents their release for five years after a president leaves office. The legality of autopen usage by a president has not been fully examined by federal courts. While the Constitution does require a president to sign legislation, it does not specify how that signature must be applied. The Executive Branch has supported autopen use for nearly two decades, indicating that it is constitutional. Historical use of autopens dates back to President Thomas Jefferson, who used early versions for correspondence. More modern uses began in 1942, while notable instances of autopen signatures include President Barack Obama using it to sign legislation when he was overseas. Biden has also used an autopen at least once during his presidency. Trump claimed he has only used autopens for less significant documents and priority is always given to signing by hand. The controversy surrounding the use of autopens continues, as some argue it undermines the integrity of presidential actions.