In a recent development that sheds light on the internal operations of the White House, Neera Tanden, a former senior Biden administration official, disclosed during a closed-door congressional testimony that she had the authority to use an autopen for signing documents on behalf of President Biden. This revelation came on Tuesday when Tanden, who served as the director of the White House Domestic Policy Council and staff secretary, was interviewed by House investigators for four hours.
Tanden's role as staff secretary from October 2021 through May 2023 involved managing the flow of documents to and from the president, during which she also had the responsibility for directing the use of the autopen. This device, which has been used by past administrations, allows for the automatic signing of documents with the president's signature.
“As staff secretary, I was responsible for handling the flow of documents to and from the president," Tanden stated in her opening remarks. She further elaborated, “I was also authorized to direct that autopen signatures be affixed to certain categories of documents. We had a system for authorizing the use of the autopen that I inherited from prior administrations. We employed that system throughout my tenure as staff secretary."
The testimony is part of an expanding investigation by the House Oversight Committee into the Biden administration's practices surrounding the use of presidential signature automation. Committee Chairman James Comer, a Kentucky Republican, indicated that Tanden's testimony is just the beginning of a broader probe. The committee plans to interview additional former aides and is seeking testimony from other high-ranking White House officials, including former White House chief of staff Ron Klain and senior adviser Anita Dunn.
Questions arose from reporters about whether the administration had used the autopen to conceal any concerns regarding President Biden's mental acuity. Tanden responded firmly, denying any such cover-up: "Absolutely not." She maintained her confidence in Biden's capabilities, asserting, "I had no experience in the White House that would provide any reason to question [Biden’s] command as president."
The investigation has sparked curiosity among the media and the public about the decision-making authority within the Biden administration. Chairman Comer stated, “I think the American people want to know. I think there’s a huge level of curiosity in the press corps with respect to who was actually calling the shots in the Biden administration.”
Scheduled upcoming interviews include those with former Biden aides Annie Tomasini and Ashley Williams, and a deposition testimony from Biden's longtime physician, Kevin O'Connor, on potential medical considerations influencing signature authorization. Former First Lady Jill Biden is also expected to provide testimony later this week regarding her knowledge of White House signature practices.
Comer expressed a preference for conducting transcribed interviews over public hearings for their effectiveness in gathering substantive information. The Washington Examiner reported on the committee's approach and Comer’s rationale, which aligns with his investigative strategy.
The use of an autopen in the White House is not a new practice; it has been a tool employed by previous administrations for routine document signings. However, the extent of its use and the delegation of authority to direct its application by high-level aides like Tanden has brought renewed attention to the processes surrounding presidential decision-making and document handling.
