The House Oversight Committee has released a report alleging that a series of executive actions taken at the end of President Biden's term are legally invalid. The 91-page document reveals that these actions, including various pardons and clemencies, were executed without President Biden's direct consent, instead utilizing an autopen device. The committee's findings are based on extensive interviews with over a dozen aides who worked closely with President Biden.
The report paints a picture of an administration where aides exerted considerable control over the President's daily activities, monitoring schedules, media appearances, and even enlisting Hollywood consultants for the staging of major speeches. According to the report, this high level of staff involvement could undermine the legitimacy of decisions made during this period.
Particularly contentious are the last-minute pardons and clemencies, one of which includes a comprehensive pardon for Hunter Biden, which the report states was the only clemency physically signed by President Biden himself. Other significant pardons, such as one granted to Dr. Anthony Fauci, were processed via autopen without explicit presidential consent. The committee has raised constitutional concerns over these actions, asserting that the delegation of pardon authority in this manner is a breach of established norms and could render these actions void.
Key figures such as the former White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients and other senior aides have admitted to their role in approving these pardons but have provided little clarity on who operated the autopen. The refusal of Deputy Chief of Staff Annie Tomasini, White House physician Dr. Kevin O'Connor, and Jill Biden's chief of staff Anthony Bernal to answer questions, each invoking the Fifth Amendment, has escalated worries about transparency and possible misconduct.
Oversight Chairman Rep. James Comer has called for the Department of Justice to review these executive actions and investigate the aides involved. Additionally, he has requested an examination of Dr. O'Connor's conduct in potentially providing misleading medical assessments.
The committee's report goes on to document the extent of aid management in President Biden's public persona, suggesting that these measures could have influenced executive decision-making. Legal analysts have pointed out that autopen-authorized actions have not been challenged in court before, but the committee's Republicans argue that the lack of explicit approval from President Biden makes the orders legally void.
As this situation unfolds, the implications could be significant, potentially affecting federal cases and public trust in government institutions. While allies of President Biden dismiss the report as politically charged, Republicans view the findings as a grave breach of constitutional authority. The debate over the legality of the autopen-issued orders and the future actions of federal and state authorities in response to the committee's findings remains ongoing.
