'I Made Every Decision': Joe Biden Responds To Trump's Claims Of Autopen Pardons

Last Updated:July 14, 2025, 20:06 IST

Trump had claimed that Biden’s staff used the autopen without his consent to pardon nearly 4,000 federal convicts

Former US President Joe Biden

Former US president Joe Biden has firmly rejected claims by his successor Donald Trump and some Republican leaders that he was unaware of the pardons and commutations granted during the final months of his presidency. The accusations centre around the use of an autopen, a mechanical device used to replicate a person’s signature.

In an interview with The New York Times, Biden said that he had personally authorised every pardon and commutation issued in the final weeks of his presidency.

“I made every decision," Biden said. He explained that the autopen was used only to apply his signature after he had approved the decisions orally. “We’re talking about a whole lot of people," he added, defending the use of the device as a practical solution.

Earlier in March, Trump had claimed that Biden’s staff used the autopen without his consent to pardon nearly 4,000 federal convicts. He declared those pardons “void, vacant, and of no further force or effect, because of the fact they were done by Autopen." However, Trump did not provide any evidence for his claims.

‘They’re Liars’

The former US president dismissed the accusations, calling Trump and his allies “liars" who are attempting to shift attention away from their own failures.

“They’re liars. They know it," he told the outlet. “They’ve done so badly. They’ve lied so consistently about almost everything they’re doing. The best thing they can do is try to change the focus and focus on something else. And this is a — I think that’s what this is about."

This was Biden’s first public response to multiple investigations launched by the Trump White House, the US Justice Department, and Congress into the clemency decisions and questions about his mental fitness while in office.

High-Profile Pardons During Biden’s Term

Biden had issued several high-profile pardons before leaving office, including to former Covid-19 adviser Anthony Fauci, retired General Mark Milley, and members of the House committee that investigated the January 6 Capitol attack. He also granted clemency to close family members, including his son, Hunter Biden. These moves were widely viewed as an effort to shield his allies and family from what he called Trump’s threats of “retribution."

Biden said he acted in good conscience. “I could not, in good conscience, do nothing," he said, referring to Trump’s repeated threats to prosecute political opponents if he returns to power.

The use of the autopen has been a standard practice in American politics. Several former US presidents, including Harry S. Truman and Barack Obama, have used it for official documents when necessary.

(With inputs from AFP)

United States of America (USA)

News world 'I Made Every Decision': Joe Biden Responds To Trump's Claims Of Autopen Pardons