U.S. President Donald Trump issued a directive on Wednesday for an investigation into President Joe Biden’s actions, claiming that Biden’s aides concealed his “cognitive decline” and raising doubts about the legitimacy of his use of the autopen for signing pardons and other official documents. This directive represents a significant escalation in Trump’s targeting of political opponents and could potentially set the stage for arguments by Republicans that various actions taken by Biden as president are invalid.
In response to Trump’s directive, Biden released a statement asserting that he alone made decisions regarding pardons, executive orders, legislation, and proclamations during his presidency. The Justice Department, under both Democratic and Republican administrations, has long acknowledged the use of an autopen for signing legal documents and issuing pardons. Contrary to Trump’s claims, there is no evidence that Biden was unaware of these actions taken on his behalf, and the president’s power to grant pardons is constitutionally protected.
Trump’s memo alleged that the American public was deliberately kept unaware of the true wielder of executive power, while Biden’s signature was used on numerous documents to implement significant policy changes. To carry out the investigation, Trump assigned Attorney General Pam Bondi and White House counsel David Warrington.
The extent to which Trump will pursue this investigation remains uncertain, as legal challenges are expected. However, it underscores his continued focus on Biden, whom he believes defeated him in the 2020 election unfairly. Trump has propagated unfounded conspiracy theories, including one alleging that Biden had died in 2020 and was replaced by a robotic clone.
Trump has frequently criticized Biden’s use of the autopen, a device that replicates a person’s signature, arguing that Biden’s aides overstepped their authority. Despite the longstanding use of autopens in the White House, Trump’s memo questions the validity of Biden’s policy decisions resulting from the autopen signatures.
Furthermore, Trump issued pardons to his family members and allies before leaving office in an effort to protect them from potential prosecution under Biden’s administration. Meanwhile, Republicans are calling for investigations into various political rivals, including former officials who have criticized Trump’s actions or disputed his claims.
The House oversight committee, led by Republican James Comer, is pushing for interviews with several Biden aides to uncover what they allege to be a cover-up of Biden’s cognitive state and decision-making process. Comer has also called for Biden’s physician and former White House aides to testify before the committee, warning of subpoenas if they do not cooperate voluntarily.
The congressional inquiry led by Republicans focuses on questioning the validity of Biden’s final executive actions, including the issuance of new federal regulations and pardons. Citing a book by journalists detailing concerns within the Democratic Party about Biden’s mental state, Republicans have intensified their scrutiny of the Biden administration’s decisions.
Biden and his family have vehemently denied the allegations in the book, dismissing them as political gossip. Questions about Biden’s age and mental acuity surfaced during the presidential race, leading to his withdrawal from the campaign following a debate performance against Trump that raised concerns about his cognitive abilities. Biden was subsequently replaced on the ticket by Kamala Harris, who ultimately lost the election to Trump.