House Oversight Investigates Biden Autopen Use for Pardons

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer and other Republicans have launched an investigation into former President Joe Biden's use of an autopen device to sign documents, including controversial last-minute pardons issued during his presidency. Audio from a Special Counsel interview revealed Biden exhibiting signs of cognitive decline, raising questions about his capacity to make decisions and authorize the use of the autopen. Comer has suggested that senior aides, potentially including First Lady Jill Biden and Hunter Biden, may have been involved in operating the device, prompting subpoenas and depositions for those implicated. The investigation focuses on whether Biden was mentally fit to authorize these actions or if unelected staff made decisions on his behalf, with concerns that pardons granted via autopen, such as a blanket pardon for Hunter Biden, might raise constitutional issues. While the autopen has been used historically by presidents, including Obama, its application to pardons has not been legally tested, and some experts argue that the validity of these pardons could be challenged. Comer emphasized the committee's goal to identify who directed the autopen's use and is considering constitutional amendments to prevent self-pardoning in the future.