WASHINGTON, D.C. – On March 17, 2025, President Donald Trump declared that all pardons issued by former President Joe Biden using an autopen device are “void, vacant, and of no further force or effect.” Trump asserted that Biden was unaware of these pardons, suggesting they were executed without his approval.
In his statement, Trump specifically targeted members of the House January 6 Select Committee, whom Biden had preemptively pardoned. He accused these individuals of destroying evidence during their investigation into the Capitol riot and indicated they would be subject to high-level investigations.
Legal experts have expressed skepticism regarding Trump’s claims. Historically, the method of signing pardons—whether personally or via autopen—has been at the president’s discretion. There is no legal requirement mandating personal signatures for the validity of such documents.
The use of autopen signatures by presidents is not unprecedented. However, reports suggest that during Biden’s tenure, the autopen was utilized extensively, raising concerns about his direct involvement in official actions. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has called for a Department of Justice investigation into this matter, questioning the constitutionality of actions taken without the president’s explicit knowledge.
As of now, it remains uncertain whether any court will act to invalidate Biden’s pardons based on the autopen usage. The Department of Justice has not yet commented on the situation.
For more insights into President Trump’s declaration, you can watch the following video:
