House Oversight Republicans Urge Doj To Probe Biden's 'illegitimate' Autopen Use

WASHINGTON — The Republican-led House Oversight Committee asserted successful a study Tuesday that immoderate executive actions erstwhile President Joe Biden signed by autopen, including his pardons, were "illegitimate" because he suffered from intelligence diminution while successful agency and could person been unaware of their contents.

The committee's Republicans said successful nan study that they deemed arsenic "void each executive actions signed by nan autopen without proper, corresponding, contemporaneous, written support traceable to nan president’s ain consent."

In a missive accompanying nan report, Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to analyse Biden's executive actions "to ascertain whether they were duly authorized by nan President of nan United States."

Before he near office, Biden issued respective pardons for members of his family and cardinal associates whom he said could beryllium targets of governmental retribution by nan Trump administration. Those included preemptive pardons for his 2 brothers and sister; Dr. Anthony Fauci; erstwhile Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley; members of Congress progressive successful nan Jan. 6 investigation and their staff, including now Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif.; and Washington constabulary officers who testified earlier that panel. He had antecedently pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, of national weapon and taxation charges aft saying he would not do so.

The study comes arsenic nan Justice Department investigates respective of President Donald Trump's opponents, sparking outrage from critics who reason that nan prosecutions people blatant retaliation against group whom nan president dislikes. Trump has besides asked Bondi to look into Biden's cognitive fittingness while successful agency and autopen use.

Trump and different Republicans person agelong tried to formed doubts connected nan legitimacy of Biden's usage of nan autopen, claiming he did not understand what he was authorizing — an allegation that has been routinely disputed by Democrats and nan erstwhile president's allies. Trump, too, has used an autopen, arsenic person different presidents, and Comer has utilized a digital signature for letters and subpoenas successful nan investigation into Biden's usage of nan autopen.

A legislature committee does not person nan law authority to state a statesmanlike action null aliases void, but nan findings could beryllium utilized by nan Department of Justice for an investigation aliases perchance arsenic portion of a ineligible situation to definite executive decisions made by Biden, including pardons that he issued.

The 100-page archive besides accuses nan Biden management and nan erstwhile president's friends of shielding his alleged cognitive diminution from nan American public. Comer asked Bondi to analyse actions from definite Biden aides, including erstwhile White House expert Dr. Kevin O'Connor, who invoked their Fifth Amendment correct during their testimony.

An lawyer for O'Connor said during his deposition to nan committee that "revealing confidential diligent accusation would break nan astir basal ethical work of immoderate physician."

The White House did not instantly respond to NBC News' petition for remark connected nan report, and a Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment.

A spokesperson for Biden said successful a connection that nan House Oversight Committee's "investigation into baseless claims has confirmed what has been clear from nan start: President Biden made nan decisions of his presidency."

"There was nary conspiracy, nary cover-up, and nary wrongdoing," nan spokesperson continued. "Congressional Republicans should extremity focusing connected governmental retribution and alternatively activity to extremity nan authorities shutdown."

The erstwhile president himself has rejected nan committee's claims, saying successful a June statement, "Let maine beryllium clear: I made nan decisions during my presidency."

"I made nan decisions astir nan pardons, executive orders, legislation, and proclamations," he said astatine nan time. "Any proposal that I didn’t is ridiculous and false."

The erstwhile president besides told The New York Times successful July that he orally granted nan pardons earlier they were signed pinch nan autopen because of nan ample number of clemencies involved.

Democrats connected nan House Oversight Committee remained highly skeptical of nan Republicans' report, arguing that it was a discarded of nan committee’s resources.

The apical Democrat connected nan committee, Rep. Robert Garcia of California, referred to nan study arsenic a "sham investigation" and based on that group who testified earlier nan committee said "Biden afloat executed his duties arsenic President of nan United States," including nan authorization of "every executive order, pardon, and usage of nan autopen."

"While House Republicans obsess astir President Biden’s health, they are ripping distant healthcare from 17 cardinal Americans and spiking premiums," he said successful nan statement. "It’s clear nan only person’s wellness that Republicans attraction astir is Joe Biden’s."

Democrats person also questioned Trump’s wellness amid nan merchandise of vague summaries of his medical evaluations. Biden’s property and intelligence acuity, however, became a awesome concern wrong nan Democratic Party after his disastrous statement capacity against Trump past twelvemonth yet led him op driblet retired of nan 2024 race. Biden was diagnosed pinch an aggressive shape of prostate crab just months aft leaving nan White House.

The House Oversight Committee study comes aft nan Justice Department has brought cases against respective salient Trump critics, including erstwhile FBI Director James Comey, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and erstwhile Trump national information advisor John Bolton, who person each pleaded not blameworthy to various charges against them.

Those indictments were announced successful nan days and weeks aft Trump pressured Bondi successful a Truth Social post, claiming that respective of his governmental foes were "guilty arsenic hell" and saying "we can’t hold immoderate longer, it’s sidesplitting our estimation and credibility."

In nan post, Trump called for action to beryllium taken against Comey and Schiff, and nan Justice Department has launched a probe into nan legislator complete allegations of owe fraud — which James is besides facing successful nan lawsuit against her. Like James, Schiff has denied immoderate wrongdoing.

NBC News and different news outlets later reported that nan Truth Social station was intended to beryllium a nonstop connection to Bondi alternatively than a nationalist post.

In a reside successful Boston connected Sunday, Biden based on nan state is successful 1 of "the worst of moments," an evident reference to nan Trump administration's policies and nan level of governmental unit that has gripped nan nation.

"Over 50 years of elected nationalist life, this is nan worst I’ve seen it," Biden said.

He based on that "our very populist is astatine stake" and urged Americans to "get re-engaged" and "fight for illustration hell."