I’ve spent the last few years documenting the myriad “right-wing conspiracies” that turn out to be verified facts a few months or years later. This week, we have a new entry in the genre that should be sending the conservative legal movement into overdrive: Biden really did have no clue who he was pardoning in the waning moments of his presidency.
Just days before Biden left office, a flood of pardons and clemency grants began pouring out of the White House for individuals ranging from the president’s troubled son, Hunter, to former NIH official Dr. Anthony Fauci; Michael Conahan, a former Pennsylvania judge at the center of the infamous “Kids-for-Cash” scheme that sent children to for-profit detention centers in return for millions of dollars in kickbacks; Adrian Peeler, a man convicted of killing an eight-year-old boy and his mother; and former Illinois city comptroller Rita Crundwell, who pleaded guilty to her involvement in a nearly $55 million embezzlement scheme in 2012.
In total, more than 1,500 individuals enjoyed this outpouring of mercy – but it now appears Biden himself may have had no idea most of it was happening.
This week, The New York Times published a story titled, “Biden Says He Made the Clemency Decisions That Were Recorded With Autopen.” It’s a headline that appears, on the surface, to quiet the mounting outrage over the extensive use of the autopen during Biden’s term. (The autopen is a machine used by the President’s staff to automatically replicate his signature on official documents, allowing for legal authorization without the President signing by hand.)
But buried deep in the piece is this shocking admission: “Biden did not individually approve each name for the categorical pardons… Rather, after extensive discussion of different possible criteria, he signed off on the standards he wanted to be used to determine which convicts would qualify for a reduction in sentence.”
In other words, Biden’s staff had him approve vague guidelines for who should get pardons, and then unelected staffers went out and made their own determinations. But even then, it appears Biden had no direct knowledge of even so much as the names of those he was pardoning. As the Times reports, “Rather than ask Biden to keep signing revised versions, his staff waited and then ran the final version through the autopen, which they saw as a routine procedure.”
That fits with a bombshell investigation from the Heritage Foundation earlier this year, which found that virtually every presidential document other than the announcement that Biden was dropping out of the race and Biden’s pardon of Hunter was signed using the same autopen signature, rather than an original signature from the President. It also vindicates the Trump White House and congressional Republicans, who are pursuing an investigation into the Biden administration’s potentially illegal use of the autopen.
There is no other way to view this than as a blatant violation of the Constitution and an intentional effort to deceive the American people about who was really running the country and making critical decisions on issues like pardons and clemency.
Before Biden dropped out of the race last year, his critics were smeared as “conspiracy theorists” or worse for the suggestion that Biden was in such a severe state of cognitive decline that he wasn’t making even basic decisions. Now, we’ve learned that by January 2024, things had become so bad that unnamed Biden staffers were using the autopen to free literally hundreds of people from prison based on broad lists of “suggestions” that they themselves had presented to the President.
The only thing more shocking than that revelation is the relatively muted response to it. Sure, Republicans and conservative pundits are justifiably making hay of it, but where are the condemnations from Democrats? When Biden issued the pardons, there were at least a few voices on the left who were willing to criticize the White House for releasing convicted murderers and fraudsters. Now, it’s crickets.
Moving forward, this should only add fuel to the fire of Republican efforts to get real answers about how much Americans were lied to during Biden’s presidency and who was responsible for those lies. That accountability effort should start with dragging as many Biden aides before Congress as is necessary to get the full story.
The success or failure of that effort has implications far beyond just setting the historical record straight and giving the American people the truth they deserve. It goes to the heart of whether we still live in a functioning republic. The presidential pardon power rests with one person – not a committee of anonymous aides armed with a signature machine.
If unelected staff can wield that authority in the name of a president who is barely aware of what’s happening, the entire system of checks and balances collapses. Preserving the integrity of our constitutional order demands full transparency, strict oversight, and serious consequences for those who abuse the public trust.
Shane Harris is the Editor in Chief of AMAC Newsline. You can follow him on X @shaneharris513.
What this comes down to is that each pardon should be revoked as being fraudulent and then should be thoroughly investigated to make sure there was no miscarriage of justice. All that were involved with this miscarriage should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law before expiration of the statute of limitations.
I sometimes feel a sense of relief, when I hear that my “theory” is a known fact, Then I suffer a dull ache when I realize there is no justice for these lawless people that have managed to infiltrate our government. It reminds me of the 2020 election in major swing states. No government body would even “LOOK” at the evidence which was presented to them. We were forced to believe it was the most honest election in our history.
Many things could be done to correct this awful crime, Simply revoke the pardons. If the FBI can find the J-6 protesters they can surely determine who used the autopen.
Why aren’t biden and harris in jail for treason?
Once again, this proves just how corrupt the federal government has become!!! At this point, who do you trust??? To be honest I have serious concerns for Congress, and that includes BOTH parties!!!
While reading this, I was reminded of the scene in Lord of the Rings when Theoden [the King of Rohan] was in a possessed stupor & was being controlled by a guy named – appropriately – Grima Wormtongue. That’s pretty much how I picture Biden’s presidency – a shell of a human being controlled by evil outside voices.
Biden and his entire staff should be sent to prison for 20 years.
This will get shoved under the mat, and never investigated. Proving the Democrats have been running the country illegally since Biden was sworn into office. And they continue to do so with the administrative state. Everything that’s abide administration did needs to be overturned. It was all illegal. The Democrats response will be don’t look back look forward to the future. As a nation we are totally screwed. The Democrats cheat get away with it and they do it again and they sweep it under the rug. The media covers up for them and Republicans I don’t think have enough balls to take it on.
My question is will anything ever be done about it. Talk is cheap punishment in government seams to be non existent. When it comes to elected officials it rarely happens.
Condemnation of Democrats? These radical liberals never condemn their own, only those who don’t love our country and are helping them destroy everything good about living in a lawful Democratic Republic. They are aiding and abetting rioters who keep attacking our ICE officials, they want to end our traditional family life, they hate Christians and Jews and they do not care whom they harm in their quest to make us a Communist nation. They are truly evil.
Elder abuse. all staffers and those that knew his mental health should
answer for what they have done to America.
And that’s why pardons should be done away with especially for family members period
What the heck was the purpose of the 25th amendment if not to get rid of someone like th former President. If Biden wasn’t eligible, hen no one is. The Democrats betrayed the American people again!
Anyone who thinks Biden was able to cogently consider HUNDREDS of pardons and commutations in the last couple of days of his term is as LOONY as he is! Somebody who wanted to let various left-wing nuts off did the “thinking” and the signing for him!
President Biden was enabled by his political party, and not by his own intellect.
Joebama, Maydorkas, Kamala Hairball, Milley Vanilly, Farcical Fauci, AWOL Austin, etc should ALL be thrown in prison. Unfortunately, nothing will get done.
OK. This article just proves what everyone already knew. What will be done about it? My guess is nothing. We could spend the taxpayer’s dollars and round up those criminals and put them back where they belong – including Hunter.
Well dems cheating the system. Gee. Whizz who would have guessed. The better question is who and what will be done. How about pardons for people not charged yet can they be pardoned????
Conspiracy theorists we have been called starting with Obama and it intensified under Trump 45. Then Biden was installed as president, he was not rightfully elected, and it continued on. We all knew the man had no plan of his own or vision for the country. He held rallies and maybe a dozen people would show up. The democrats made the Hunter laptop with the support of the FBI director a Russia collusion while they knew the laptop was real. No way could Biden check the individuals for clemency and pardons. He himself said there were too many folks. You cannot set a criteria and then apply it to thousands of people. Each case had to be judged on its own. This Autopen scandal is greater than the COVID pandemic rules they forced on us. We have known all along the evil the progressive leftists along with the democrat leadership have heaped onto this country. A lie is a lie but the truth will set you free.
The difference between a conspiracy theory and the truth is usually around 4-6 months.
What? More proof that Biden wasn’t in control?
REVOKE every one of them for being illegally done.
Again, I am sick to my stomach thinking how corrupt and lawless the Biden administration was. Will justice ever be even somewhat applied to the thugs and insurgents of the Obama and Biden goon squad?
Joseph Robinette Biden (D) Deceitful, Dishonest, Demented, Disreputable, Disgusting, Dolt, Dirty, and Dastardly…. Got it?
It probably goes further than that in as much as Harris, Clintons and Obama already knew of Bidens dementia and that is why they put him into the “presidential race”, so that the power would still be with the democratic CLA N. Then they kept Biden out of the spotlight as much as possible, and when he made an absolute fool of himself and people started to question his abilities all of the CLAN rebuked the comments and said JOE was in total control. What a bunch of thieves…….maybe they should go to the Alligator Alcatraz since they all seem to think it’s a terrible place to hold their new democratic voting friends. It will be perfect for all of them because there would be no legal escaping from there. I am surely hoping now the facts are out…….the Republicans in the Senate and Congress and on the Supreme Court will start making plenty of moves to have these CRIMINALS PROSECUTED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW, AND ALSO INCLUDING THE ENTIRE LYING BIDEN FAMILY! If they totally get away with it that will show the American people that there is no fixing the Judicial System of the United States. This list should include Biden’s doctors, and the lying media as well because they didn’t do anything to investigate the entire four year debacle of Slimy Joe Biden. Then go after every person wrongly pardoned by the illegal use of the autopen and serve them with papers that their pardon was invalid and they should prepare for prosecution. How can you make America great again with this load of garbage to shovel out? Just flush the democratic party down the toilet where they belong.
Biden like a boy King sat on the throne for decorative purposes only, the real power was in the hands of his handlers and decision makers, Trump is hated because he is not playing according to the rules of the swamp We only see a tiny bit of a real depth of the rot ,not many would survive the truth and who would dare to dig up, only voter can stop it by not accepting the lies and voting for them.
You see, the people called “Conspiracy Theorists”, are really the ones who are informed and draw their own common sense conclusions – and always questioning information from a source with an agenda. Hence they are usually right.
Round them back up and lock them back down, as for the staffers, they like these convicts so much, put them inside with them.
Nothing will happen; talk is cheap. Biden and Dr. Jill are corrupt people!
Biden and the Democratic Party need to be deported, first seize their assets and deport them for treason and being enemies to America and the American people!!! Go deeper and add professors, college presidents, board of education and the rest of our enemies and people being treasonous to our country!!!!
So what? Nobody gonna go to jail. Nobody gonna get fined. We all know it happened, even those who defend this disgusting administration. But no one will suffer any consequences and nothing will change.
President Adams was right. Our Constitution is only suitable for the governance of a moral and religious people and wholly unsuited fro the governance of any other.
If good, honest, American Democrats don’t stand up, the Party is going to collapse. The Democrats have long passed the “line in the sand” and continue to get more and more illegal and immoral. However, I must admit that the Republicans just talk a good story and rarely do a damn thing about the corruption and criminal activities of the Democrats. Now we have to face the facts that Muslims/Communist are trying to take over our government and the Squad and Democrats are lining up to vote for them.
This travesty makes the Woodrow Wilson takeover look like nothing. The people involved in this treasonous activity should be held accountable. Absolute insanity!
The pardons are not only grossly in error, but illegitimate and should be voided as unauthorized actions.
It will be notable if anything happens because of this revelation. Will these pardons be revoked?
under Biden and dems there was noooo acountability and that seems to be rampant all thru our goverment and thats why the dems are screaming
Maybe there should be a double check system in place for the President to have the ability to use the autopen. Not some pee-on appointment, but someone or a group of elected people. Assign a person from Congress, one from the Senate, and the VP to make up that group to verify. Add in a Supreme Court justice to make sure it is all legal.
Unfortunately, nothing is going to be done about this. Just like the discoveries being made as to Obama being one of the guilty parties involved with the Russia hoax, no one is going to be brought to justice and executed for their crimes of treason against the Constitution and the country.
I’ve been accused of being “a conspiracy theorist” more times than I can count. And I wear the label like a badge of honor. Ninety-nine percent of the times I have been proved to be right about whatever it was…and that’s the end of it.
Suddenly, no more conversation. I wonder why? Hmmm…. LOL LOL…
Joe Biden was not legally elected President of the United States. The pardons are worthless. I could have signed then and they would be worthless because I am not the President either. I do not understand why people thing Joe Biden was ever President of our country. He did not even made a good idiot!
Biden and his entire administration were lying crooks. They should be prosecuted.
Sadly, all this “Hoopla” will result in Total “ZERO ACCOUNTABILITY” and “NOTHING EVER HAPPENS TO THOSE IN VIOLATION OF THE LAWS BROKEN”! JUST ONE MORE BIG GIANT CIRCUS ACT THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION GOT AWAY WITH!!
Tar and feather Obiden and Harris, march them through the streets of DC and then wipe the Obiden presidency from the historical record. Fix it so that 20 years from now no one will know he was president.
It’s looking more and more like the democrats are corrupt. And, it’s looking more and more the republicans are just as corrupt. It is time to start cleaning house. Our founding fathers believed that congress should be made up of individuals who were giving of their time and fortunes to help further the interests of our country. How the hell did we end up in this pig sty? There are so many people that should not be in congress, but how do we get rid of them? It’s time for the people to take charge, all over the country.
Use of the ‘auto pen'” should only be used if the president can’t sign for himself, but has verbally been given the authority to another!
I hope we can justice with Auto pen! How can Joe Biden make decision in Whita House, when it apparent he was told what to do!
Any repututable reporter should consider suggestive name-dropping in their articles to incite further interest in the topics covered by the readers.
I would suggest that the staffers were selling pardons. Perhaps they were building up a war chest to pay legal fees if they are prosecuted. See Matthew 16:1-9
Lots of fanfare in the media declaring conservative groups Conspiracy Theorists. Put when all the facts emerge later, not a peep in the media about their being Conspiracy Establishers. MSM — the enemy of the People.
While the autopen has use for more ceremonial functions, I have to wonder if it can legally be used to sign congressional legislation.
So is it possible that any legislation signed by the autopen (not the president himself) was never officially signed into law? Meaning it would be the same as if Biden simply didn’t sign it. In which case:
and they wonder why we don,t trust politions