Trump Tries to "Void" Biden’s Pardons Due to Autopen
Can a President Undo Pardons? 3 Key Things to Know About Trump's Autopen Challenge
1. Trump Challenges Biden’s Pardons
In recent late-night social media posts, President Donald Trump declared that pardons issued by former President Joe Biden are “VOID, VACANT, AND OF NO FURTHER FORCE OR EFFECT”, claiming Biden’s pardons were invalid because they were signed using an autopen, a robotic device widely used to replicate signatures. (NYT)
2. What Is an Autopen, Anyway?
An autopen is routinely used by presidents and lawmakers to officially sign documents when they're unavailable in person. It’s been legally accepted since at least 2011, when former President Barack Obama authorized the signing of legislation remotely with an autopen from overseas. (NYT)
3. Is Trump’s Argument Legally Valid?
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to 47 to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.