President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he was nullifying all last-minute autopen signed pardons issued by President Joe Biden. This unprecedented move is expected to trigger legal challenges and inflame political tensions between Republicans and Democrats.

Biden’s use of the autopen to sign almost every official document has led to growing concerns about the legitimacy of preemptive and blanket pardons. Additionally, questions are being raised about whether President Biden was fully aware of the extensive pardons issued in his name.

Most of the pardons granted blanket immunity “for any offenses in the United States,” clarifying that the crimes may have been committed or taken part in “...during the period from January 1, 2014, through the date of this pardon” encompassing 10 years. 

Biden’s Cognitive Decline and Autopen Signed Pardons

Last week, a former Biden aide alleged that White House staff may have exceeded their authority by overusing the autopen to sign official documents, raising concerns about whether Biden, 82, was in cognitive decline at the time of signing.

A Heritage Foundation analysis of Biden's signatures on the last-minute pardons has further fueled the controversy surrounding the mechanical signatures. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey claimed that several executive orders signed by Biden bore identical autopen signatures, suggesting they may be unconstitutional and legally void.

“If true, these executive orders, pardons, and all other actions are unconstitutional and legally void,” Bailey stated.

He also called for an investigation into whether Biden’s cognitive decline allowed unelected staff to implement policies without his explicit approval.

“I am demanding the DOJ investigate whether President Biden’s cognitive decline allowed unelected staff to push through radical policy without his knowing approval,” Bailey said.

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Trump’s Response to Biden’s Last-Minute Pardons 

On his final day in office, President Biden issued a series of controversial last-minute pardons, including preemptive pardons for all nine members of the January 6th Committee.

The group included Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) and former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), who has since endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2025 election.

Other notable recipients of Biden’s pardons included General Mark Milley, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Dr. Anthony Fauci.

Trump responded forcefully to Biden’s autopen signed pardons, declaring them void in a post on his Truth Social platform early Monday morning.

 Autopen Signed Pardons: Did Joe Know?

“The ‘Pardons’ that Sleepy Joe Biden gave to the Unselect Committee of Political Thugs, and many others, are hereby declared VOID, VACANT, AND OF NO FURTHER FORCE OR EFFECT, because of the fact that they were done by Autopen,” Trump wrote.

“In other words, Joe Biden did not sign them but, more importantly, he did not know anything about them!” he continued, referencing ongoing concerns about Biden’s cognitive abilities.

Trump also warned that members of the former January 6th House select committee who received pardons would be “subject to investigation at the highest level.”

“Those on the Unselect Committee, who destroyed and deleted ALL evidence obtained during their two-year Witch Hunt of me, and many other innocent people, should fully understand that they are subject to investigation at the highest level,” he wrote.

“The fact is, they were probably responsible for the Documents that were signed on their behalf without the knowledge or consent of the Worst President in the History of our Country, Crooked Joe Biden!” he added.

What Is an Autopen?

The autopen, or robot pen, is a machine used to duplicate signatures. Unlike scanned signatures, an actual pen produces the signature with ink, mimicking a real handwritten signature.

 The device was first used by President Thomas Jefferson, who employed a signature duplication tool patented in 1803. Early autopens relied on physical signature molds, whereas modern versions utilize digital technology.

The controversy over Biden’s autopen signed pardons has raised significant legal and constitutional questions regarding the legitimacy of executive orders and pardons signed in this manner. If courts rule against the validity of the autopen signature documents, it could set a major legal precedent affecting future presidential actions.