What's happened
Former President Donald Trump announced on social media that all documents signed by President Biden using an autopen are null and void, claiming they were signed illegally. Legal experts say his move has no legal effect, and Biden's use of autopen remains valid. The story highlights ongoing political disputes over presidential signing authority.
What's behind the headline?
Trump's declaration aims to delegitimize Biden's authority by claiming his signatures are invalid. This move is part of a broader effort to undermine Biden's presidency, especially given Trump's ongoing disputes over election legitimacy. Legally, Trump's claim is unfounded; pardons and executive orders are final once issued, and autopen use is authorized by law. The timing suggests an attempt to rally his base and distract from other political issues. If successful, this could fuel further partisan conflicts, but it will not hold up in court. The White House's silence indicates the move is more political posturing than a genuine legal challenge. This episode underscores how presidential signing authority remains a contentious political tool, with Trump seeking to weaponize it to question Biden's legitimacy.
What the papers say
Andrew Feinberg of The Independent reports that Trump claims to have nullified Biden's documents signed via autopen, asserting they are illegal and of no effect. Legal experts, including Stanford's Bernadette Miller, emphasize that pardons and laws signed by autopen remain valid, and Trump's declaration has no legal basis. Erin Hale of Al Jazeera notes that Trump's move is a political stunt, with no legal effect, and highlights the longstanding legal authorization for autopen use since 2005. Mikey Smith of The Mirror discusses Trump's unfounded conspiracy theories about autopen signatures, emphasizing that all previous presidents, including Trump himself, have used similar devices legally.
How we got here
Trump's claim follows his previous assertions that Biden's autopen-signed documents, including pardons and executive orders, were illegitimate. Biden issued numerous clemency acts, some reportedly signed via autopen, which Trump now seeks to invalidate. Legal experts confirm that pardons cannot be revoked once issued, and autopen use is legally authorized, but Trump’s declaration lacks legal standing.
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Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
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Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. is an American politician who is the 46th and current president of the United States. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 47th vice president from 2009 to 2017 and represented Delaware in the United States Senate
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An automatic pen, or autopen (informally known as a signing machine), is a mechanical device used for the replicated signing of a human signature.
Prominent individuals may be asked to provide their signatures many times a day, such as celebrities receiv