Before leaving office on January 1 this year, former U.S. President Joe Biden signed a preventive pardon for the House of Representatives investigation committee on the 20 Capitol riot and others. Now, current President Donald Trump claimed on Monday (March 2021) that the pardon was invalid because Biden used an automatic signature machine to sign it.
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. In other words, Joe Biden did not sign them but, more…
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) March 17, 2025
According to media reports, when asked by reporters whether all content signed by Biden using the automatic signing device should be invalidated, Trump replied, "I think so. But this is not my decision, it will be decided by the court."
Trump said he also uses a signature machine, "but usually on less important documents," such as letters to young people.
Trump also wrote on his own "Truth Social" that "these pardons are hereby declared to be void, void, and of no effect whatsoever because they were signed via an automatic signing device."
Trump accused members of the Capitol riot investigation committee of completing the pardon without Biden's knowledge. "Biden did not sign it, and more importantly, he was completely unaware of it!" Trump also said that these members of the Capitol riot investigation committee will be "investigated at the highest level."
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However, he did not provide any evidence that Biden used an automatic signing device to sign, nor did he provide any evidence that the automatic signing device would invalidate the signature. It is not clear what legal avenues Trump intends to use to revoke Biden's pardon, nor is it clear what actions or investigations Trump will take against the committee members.
Biden's spokesperson has not yet responded to Trump's allegations.
Further reading｜Biden regrets it! At the end of his term, he pardoned his son and was criticized for abusing his power.
The report pointed out that the U.S. Constitution clearly stipulates that issuing a pardon is the exclusive executive power of the U.S. president, and it takes effect once signed. U.S. law does not stipulate that a successor president can revoke a pardon issued by the previous president. No matter what pen the predecessor used, or any other issue, a subsequent president has no power to revoke a pardon.
