Fact Check: Joe Biden handed the power of the presidency to an autopen controlled by staffers.

Fact Check: "Joe Biden handed the power of the presidency to an autopen controlled by staffers."

What We Know

The claim that Joe Biden "handed the power of the presidency to an autopen controlled by staffers" stems from controversies surrounding his use of an autopen to sign clemency warrants during the final days of his presidency. An autopen is a mechanical device that replicates a person's signature, and it was used by Biden to sign numerous pardons and commutations, particularly as he issued clemency to nearly 4,000 federal convicts and preemptively pardoned several politically prominent individuals (New York Times).

Biden has publicly stated that he made all the clemency decisions himself and that the use of the autopen was a logistical necessity due to the volume of pardons he was issuing (USA Today). He emphasized that he had orally granted all the pardons and that his staff only used the autopen to expedite the signing process, not to make decisions on his behalf (NBC News).

However, the use of the autopen has raised questions, particularly among Republican critics who allege that it indicates a lack of direct presidential control over significant decisions. They argue that the autopen's use could imply that staffers were effectively making decisions without Biden's explicit consent (Fox News).

Analysis

The evidence surrounding Biden's use of the autopen presents a complex picture. On one hand, Biden asserts that he was fully in control of the clemency decisions, stating, "I made every decision" (New York Times). This assertion is supported by internal communications reviewed by The Times, which indicate that there was a process in place to ensure Biden's oral approval before using the autopen for signing clemency records (New York Times).

On the other hand, critics, including members of the Republican Party, have pointed to the autopen's use as evidence of Biden's diminished capacity to govern. They argue that the reliance on a mechanical signature for such significant decisions undermines the integrity of the presidential office (Fox News). The investigation into Biden's use of the autopen is ongoing, with the White House Counsel's Office reviewing thousands of documents to determine whether the autopen was used appropriately and whether Biden's directives were clear (Fox News).

The reliability of the sources involved in this discussion varies. The New York Times and NBC News are reputable news organizations that provide detailed reporting based on interviews and internal documents. In contrast, Fox News has been criticized for potential bias, particularly in its framing of Biden's actions as indicative of incompetence, which may influence the interpretation of the facts (Fox News).

Conclusion

The claim that Joe Biden handed the power of the presidency to an autopen controlled by staffers is Partially True. While Biden did use an autopen to sign clemency warrants, he maintains that he was personally involved in all decisions regarding those pardons. The ongoing investigations and the mixed interpretations of the evidence suggest that while there is a basis for concern regarding the use of the autopen, the assertion that Biden completely relinquished control is not fully substantiated. The situation highlights the complexities of presidential decision-making and the implications of using technology in the execution of official duties.

Fact Check: Joe Biden handed the power of the presidency to an autopen controlled by staffers.