Biden’s autopen was busy before he left office. But it might all be for naught.
And now Mike Johnson moved to revoke Biden’s pardons and the ramifications are massive.
Speaker Johnson Challenges Biden’s Pardons as Oversight Report Questions Mental Fitness
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., sharply criticized the validity of pardons issued by former President Joe Biden, seizing on a new House Oversight Committee report that raises concerns about Biden’s mental capacity during his term.
Released on October 28, the 100-page GOP-led probe alleges Biden’s inner circle concealed signs of cognitive decline, casting doubt on the legitimacy of executive actions, including thousands of clemency orders. Johnson’s pushback underscores his commitment to constitutional integrity and accountability, positioning him as a steadfast guardian of transparent governance.
“It sounds like a terrible novel or something, but this is reality,” Johnson said, reacting to claims that Biden’s team obscured his condition while signing off on major decisions.
“And so the pardons, for example, he pardoned categories of violent criminals and turned them loose on the streets, and he didn’t even know who. He didn’t even know what the categories were, apparently, much less the individual people, that he pardoned.”
Oversight Report Fuels Debate Over Autopen Actions
The Oversight Committee, led by Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., questions whether Biden personally approved actions signed via autopen, particularly clemency orders for broad categories of offenders. Comer labeled these actions potentially “void” and urged the Department of Justice to investigate.
Johnson, a former constitutional litigator, backed this call, arguing the pardons are “invalid on their face” and signaling his readiness to challenge them legally. “I mean, I used to be a constitutional litigator. I would love to take this case,” he said.
The report suggests unelected aides may have driven key decisions, a claim Johnson sees as a dangerous breach of executive responsibility.
“You can’t allow a president to check out and have unelected, unaccountable, faceless people making massive decisions for the country,” he said, emphasizing the need to protect democratic processes from such overreach.
Biden Team Rejects Claims, Urges Shutdown Resolution
A Biden spokesperson dismissed the report’s findings to Fox News Digital on Tuesday, insisting, “This investigation into baseless claims has confirmed what has been clear from the start: President Biden made the decisions of his presidency. There was no conspiracy, no cover-up, and no wrongdoing.”
“Congressional Republicans should stop focusing on political retribution and instead work to end the government shutdown.” Biden himself told The New York Times in July, “I made every decision,” reinforcing his team’s stance.
Despite the pushback, Johnson’s focus on the pardons’ legality highlights his resolve to hold past administrations accountable, ensuring executive power remains in check.
As the government shutdown persists over Democratic demands for healthcare subsidies, his leadership signals a fight to restore trust in governance while navigating today’s pressing challenges.
