In a fierce rebuttal to ongoing claims from Donald Trump, President Joe Biden has staunchly defended the legitimacy of his clemency decisions made in the final days of his presidency, asserting, “I made every single one of those.” This declaration comes in the wake of Trump’s incendiary remarks labeling the use of an autopen to sign pardons as “one of the biggest scandals” in decades. Trump’s claims suggest that Biden lacked the mental acuity to authorize these decisions, a notion Biden vehemently rejects.
Biden’s comments, made in an exclusive interview with the New York Times, seek to dispel rumors that his aides acted without his consent. The President insists that the legality of using an autopen has been established, with the U.S. Justice Department confirming that no law mandates a handwritten signature for pardons. Biden noted that previous presidents, including Trump, have utilized this device for various documents. In a dramatic twist, Trump has declared that Biden’s clemency orders are null and void, despite lacking any evidence to support his assertion.
As the political battle escalates, Republicans are probing Biden’s cognitive fitness, with House Oversight Chair James Comer demanding testimony from the White House doctor regarding Biden’s mental state. Meanwhile, experts assert that Trump has no power to overturn Biden’s decisions; only the Supreme Court could intervene, and that is deemed unlikely.
In this high-stakes political showdown, Biden stands firm, emphasizing that regardless of the method used, the decisions were his. The autopen controversy has ignited a fierce debate over presidential authority and accountability, with both sides digging in for a prolonged confrontation. As the nation watches, one fact remains clear: the power behind the pen, whether mechanical or not, still belongs to the President. The implications of this battle extend far beyond a mere signature, challenging the very essence of executive power in America.