Trump orders investigation into autopen use during Biden presidency

President Donald Trump has ordered the investigation into Joe Biden's use of the autopen, citing the former president's cognitive decline while he was in office.

As part of the investigation, the Trump White House stated that they will be looking into acts of clemency signed by Biden as well as other policy documents. Additionally, they will look into who was directing that Biden's signature be used on various policy decisions.

It has been reported that the former president's signature on many executive orders as well as pardons was written by an autopen, a device that can be used by authorized staffers to sign documents on behalf of the president and is used throughout Washington, DC in congressional offices. Although it can be used by staffers, the ultimate decision lies with the president or lawmaker when signing official documents. Some have speculated that because of Biden's decline in office, he was not aware of what documents his signature was authorizing.

The investigation into the Biden White House's use of the autopen will address "any activity, coordinated or otherwise, to purposefully shield the public from information regarding Biden’s mental and physical health;" "any agreements between Biden’s aides to cooperatively and falsely deem recorded videos of the President’s cognitive inability as fake;" as well as "any agreements between Biden’s aides to require false, public statements elevating the President’s capabilities."

"In recent months, it has become increasingly apparent that former President Biden’s aides abused the power of Presidential signatures through the use of an autopen to conceal Biden’s cognitive decline and assert Article II authority. This conspiracy marks one of the most dangerous and concerning scandals in American history."

The order added, "The Counsel to the President, in consultation with the Attorney General and the head of any other relevant executive department or agency (agency), shall investigate, to the extent permitted by law, whether certain individuals conspired to deceive the public about Biden’s mental state and unconstitutionally exercise the authorities and responsibilities of the President."