House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer is calling on the Justice Department to open an investigation into who may have authorized the widespread use of the autopen during former President Joe Biden\u2019s scandal-plagued term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a 100-page report released Tuesday, the Republican-led committee alleged that members of Biden\u2019s inner circle concealed the president\u2019s cognitive decline and relied on an autopen \u2014 a mechanical device that reproduces a person\u2019s signature \u2014 to authorize executive actions, pardons, and other official decisions without Biden\u2019s direct involvement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFaced with the cognitive decline of President Joe Biden, White House aides \u2014 at the direction of the inner circle \u2014 hid the truth about the former president\u2019s condition and fitness for office,\u201d the report charged, as reported by Fox News<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The report criticized what it described as a \u201chaphazard documentation process\u201d for presidential pardons under Biden, alleging that the irregularities cast doubt on whether the former president personally approved the clemency decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn the absence of sufficient contemporaneous documentation indicating that cognitively deteriorating President Biden himself made a given executive decision, such decisions do not carry the force of law and should be considered void,\u201d said the report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Comer is urging Attorney General Pam Bondi to review all executive actions taken between Biden\u2019s inauguration and departure, particularly his controversial pardons. \u201cGiven the patterns and findings detailed herein,\u201d the report continued, \u201cthis review should focus particularly on all acts of clemency. However, it should also include all other types of executive actions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Oversight Committee\u2019s investigation also questioned Hunter Biden\u2019s reported role in the pardon process. According to testimony from former White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients, Hunter Biden was present during discussions about \u201cpreemptive pardons\u201d that were considered for members of the Biden family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Comer said Tuesday that \u201cevery pardon\u201d signed by Biden should be considered \u201cnull and void,\u201d arguing that the process was marked by inconsistencies and lacked evidence of Biden\u2019s direct participation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n