Former President Joe Biden is defending his use of an autopen device to sign pardons during his final weeks in office, while Republicans question the legitimacy and mental sharpness behind these decisions. Biden insists he personally approved every clemency action—including broad categorical pardons—but critics argue the process lacked transparency and proper oversight.
Biden claims he made every single pardon decision himself. He told the New York Times he approved categories and standards for granting pardons. Biden says he owned the process completely, even when staff handled paperwork.
In December, Biden pardoned his son Hunter Biden, who faced tax and gun charges. He also commuted sentences for 1,500 people and pardoned 39 nonviolent offenders. These moves sparked immediate controversy.
Just before leaving office, Biden issued preemptive pardons to nearly 2,500 nonviolent drug offenders. He also shielded family members and staff from potential Trump-era prosecutions. Critics say this was an abuse of power.
Republicans like President Donald Trump call Biden’s autopen pardons illegal and void. They argue signing pardons without physical oversight undermines justice. Trump admitted using autopens for minor matters but condemned it for life-changing decisions.
Biden lashed out at GOP critics, calling them “liars” for suggesting he wasn’t mentally fit. His defenders insist the autopen was a practical tool for signing thousands of documents. They say the real issue is Biden’s intent, not the pen.
The focus now shifts to who benefited from these pardons. Biden’s team claims he protected innocent Americans from political witch hunts. But conservatives see cronyism, especially in pardons for his inner circle.
This controversy exposes deeper worries about unchecked presidential power. Patriots demand transparency: if a leader can pardon en masse without scrutiny, our justice system is broken. Every American deserves equal treatment, not favors for the connected few.
