BIDEN AUTOPEN Scandal? – Congress INVESTIGATES

As Congress delves into questions about President Biden’s executive order signings, a deeper probe into the White House’s transparency emerges.

At a Glance

• House Republicans investigate President Biden’s health and mental fitness, focusing on autopen use.
• The legality of autopen use has been affirmed by past legal rulings.
• The Oversight Committee is preparing to subpoena former Biden staff involved with autopen signings.
• Concerns about unauthorized influence from Biden’s family continue to surface.

House Oversight Committee Probes Autopen Use

House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer is spearheading an investigation into the use of an autopen for signing executive orders under President Joe Biden. The primary focus is to determine whether these orders were signed without Biden’s direct awareness, potentially pointing towards unauthorized decisions made by his aides. Autopens have been utilized in the White House since President Obama, but recent scrutiny has its legality and decision-making processes under question, especially concerning Biden’s cognitive abilities.

Autopen use lacks definitive tracking to pinpoint frequency under Biden’s tenure, with the Heritage Foundation suggesting its extensive use. As outlined by a 2005 Department of Justice memo and a 2024 court ruling, autopens hold legal standing for signing legal documents. Rep. Comer voiced doubts over the legality of executive orders authorized via autopen, even as former White House officials assure decisions were made by Biden himself.

Influence and Accountability Questions

Scrutiny extends to examining potential undue influence by President Biden’s family over his administration’s executive functions. Chairman Comer has questioned who was authorizing these autopen signings, emphasizing the need to understand whether Biden was aware of their prolific use. Reports are circulating within media circles, both conservative and otherwise, about possible cover-ups by the administration regarding these actions.

“We’re focused on the autopen,” House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky. told NBC News. “Who was making the decisions? Who was authorizing his signature? Was it him?”

The political implications of this investigation are far-reaching, adding pressure amid Biden’s recent prostate cancer diagnosis. However, the focus remains predominantly on his mental capacity’s alignment with his executive duties.

Watch coverage here.

Anticipacted Developments

The House Oversight Committee is moving forward with the intention to issue subpoenas to former Biden staff members involved with the autopen process. Trump has weighed in, criticizing the autopen use, suggesting it compromises the presidency’s integrity. Comer believes this probe might evolve into a significant American political scandal, echoing Trump’s anti-bureaucracy sentiment.

“Any accusation that President Biden was not making decisions is false. President Biden made the decisions about the pardons and the executive orders he issued, and the legislation he signed into law,” a former Biden official told NBC News.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/house-republicans-autopen-investigation-biden-health-rcna208138

The Oversight Committee’s focus on this issue highlights the importance of accountability within the highest office, aiming to ensure decisions are made transparently and responsibly.