Trump's Attempt to Invalidate Biden's Orders via Autopen Sparks Debate Among Legal Experts
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President Donald Trump has claimed that any executive order, memorandum, or federal directive signed by his predecessor Joe Biden using an autopen is now 'terminated.' Trump made this announcement on Truth Social, stating that 92% of Biden's official acts were executed by mechanical signature without his personal approval. According to Trump, Biden was not involved in the autopen process, and staff members acted illegally. However, Trump's assertion has been disputed by legal experts. An autopen is a machine that replicates a person's handwritten signature. In 2005, the Justice Department issued guidance stating that a president can direct a subordinate to affix their signature to a bill, including using an autopen. While Trump claims that Biden's pardons with the autopen are 'void,' legal experts argue that the use of an autopen does not invalidate official acts. David Super, a constitutional law expert at Georgetown University, explained that the Constitution does not require signatures for pardons, and a president can verbally grant pardons without needing to put it in writing. Kermit Roosevelt, a constitutional law expert at the University of Pennsylvania, also weighed in, stating that if a president is unaware of an official act, it may not be considered valid. However, he doubts that Biden was unaware of the autopen process. Notably, previous presidents like Barack Obama and George W. Bush have also used the autopen without their orders being struck down in court. The use of an autopen remains a matter of debate, but it is unlikely to be the sole basis for invalidating official acts. In conclusion, the legality of Trump's attempt to invalidate Biden's orders via autopen remains uncertain. While Trump's claims have sparked debate among legal experts, it is unlikely that the use of an autopen alone will be enough to strike down official acts in court.
