Former President Joe Biden told the New York Times that he had given his staff the use of his autopen because he “had given leniency to so many people”.
For the first time in an interview with the NYT, Biden addressed House Republican and the Trump administration in his alleged use of the Autopen to sign various documents in the White House. The former president declared to the point of sale that he had personally approved all the pardons and switches at the end of his mandate, but had ordered his staff to use the mandates of Automatic Clémence because “we are talking about many people”.
“I made all the decisions,” Biden told the 25 pardons and switches in which the autopen was used from December 2024 to January 2025. (Related: Biden leaves the cop killer, dangerous criminals walk freely in the action of Last Minute Clémence)
American president Joe Biden pronounces a farewell address to the nation of the Oval office while (from left to right) the second American gentleman Doug Emhoff, American vice-president Kamala Harris, the first Lady Jill Biden, his son Hunter Biden, La Maison Blanche on January 15, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Samuel Corum / Getty Images)
Biden also addressed the pardons he made for eminent personalities like his family or General Mark A. Millery and Dr Anthony Fauci. The former president signed only one forgiveness with his own hand from December to January and it was for his son Hunter Biden. The former president declared to the point of sale that he had addressed each “high -level grace” personally with his aid.
“Everyone knows how vindictive it is, so we knew they would do what they would do now,” said Biden at the point of sale, saying that he wanted to protect his family from major legal invoices that fight potential cases.
“I consciously made all these decisions,” he added.
The NYT also examined dozens of emails given to the Trump administration and the Ministry of Justice as part of their investigation into the use of the Autopen during the Biden presidency. The point of sale did not examine all of the emails from November 2024 to January 20, 2025.
Of the dozens of emails examined, the NYT noted that the staff of the former president had a process to ensure that Biden gave verbal approval of the use of the autopen, which was used by its staff secretary, Stefanie Feldman. Assistants who had participated in verbal meetings with the former president when he authorized such use would write account emails, according to the NYT. Some of these senior executives included the former chief of staff, Jeffrey D. Zients, and the lawyer for the White House Ed Siskel.
“During the January 19 meeting, which took place in the yellow oval room of the White House residence, Mr. Biden kept his collaborators up to almost 10 pm to talk about such decisions, according to people familiar with the issue,” the NYT wrote.
“The emails show that assistant to Mr. Siskel sent a summary project of Mr. Biden’s decisions at this meeting to an assistant from Mr. Zients, copying Mr. Siskel, at 10:03 pm, the assistant transmitted it to Mr. Reed and Mr. Zients, asking for their approval, then sent a final version to Mrs. Feldman – Copy of many participants in Reunion – PM ”, the report continues.
US President Joe Biden hugs his hands as he delivered his farewell speech to the nation of the White House Oval Office on January 15, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Mandel ngan photo – Pool / Getty Images)
Towards the end of his administration, when Biden granted leniency and large lots, the former president has not personally approved each name but signed such criteria and standards, according to emails, according to the NYT report. Communications on such must be managed by the former president before being sent, reported the NYT. An email showed that Biden had asked for an adjustment on a press release, according to the NYT.
In another case, small modifications have been made or names have been added to the list, but Biden was not informed of each adjustment, the NYT reported. Instead, its staff would run the final version via the autopen, rather than requesting Biden’s permission on each change, said an assistant at the NYT. Such a procedure was routine, added the source.
Throughout his presidency, Trump was skeptical about the use by Biden of the Autopen and if he knew if he was expelled from orders which are repulsed by his administration.
“Joe Biden was not intended for open borders, he never talked about open borders, where criminals of all kinds, forms and sizes, can circulate in our country at will,” wrote Trump in a May verification post. “It was not his idea to open the border, and almost destroy our country, and to cost us hundreds of billions of dollars to get out of the criminals of our country, and go through the process that we are going through now. These are the people who knew he was with cognitive sickness and who took care of us. They stole the Presidency of the United States and took charge of us.
“It is a betrayal at the highest level!” They did it to destroy our country. The Joe Biden that everyone knew would never allow drug traffickers, gang members and mentally crazy to come to our completely uncontrolled and unsuitable country. All that anyone who has to do is to seek his record, “he continued. “Something very serious should happen to these treason thugs who wanted to destroy our country, but I couldn’t, because I came. Make America again great! ”
