President Biden’s chief of staff signed off on thousands of clemencies on the final day at the White House.
Former President Joe Biden acknowledged this week that he did not approve each individual who received a pardon on his final day in the White House. He said he authorized the standards he desired to determine who would qualify for clemency.
The administration issued 25 warrants for pardons and commutations in the final two months through use of the autopen, which is a reproduction of the president’s signature, with thousands of people receiving clemency under two of those warrants.
While President Biden has maintained that he “made every decision,” an email from his chief of staff, Jeff Zients, authorized the use of the autopen on the final version of clemencies and pardons, including preemptive pardons for members of the president’s family and administration officials.
President Donald Trump has questioned the legitimacy of the documents signed through President Biden’s autopen. On a podcast interview, President Trump said, “I really believe it was a crime because I don’t think he knew he was doing it. I think that people took over the autopen. They got things signed that shouldn’t have been signed.”
The Department of Justice began an investigation into the use of the autopen in June to determine whether or not White House aides “abused the power of Presidential signatures” during President Biden’s term.
The House Oversight Committee has also been hearing testimony from former White House officials regarding President Biden’s mental acuity while in office. Multiple witnesses have pled the Fifth Amendment during the hearings, refusing to answer in order to avoiding incriminating themselves.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For wisdom for President Trump and members of his administration as they investigate the potential illegality of the use of the autopen during President Biden’s term.
- For Chairman Comer and those on the House Oversight Committee as they seek further information from previous administration officials regarding Joe Biden’s health while in office.
Sources: NY Post, Washington Examiner, Fox News, MSN, NY Times
