Agency Report
Donald Trump announced on Monday he was revoking the pardons granted by Joe Biden meant to protect Trump’s detractors from retaliation, arguing that they were invalid due to his Democratic predecessor allegedly using an autopen to sign them.
It was uncertain what authority Trump possesses to cancel pardons given by a former president. Historically, it is quite uncommon for pardons to be rescinded, and this action could see Trump again pushing the boundaries of executive power as he targets his political adversaries.
Trump alleged that Biden signed the documents with an autopen, a device commonly used, and claimed this rendered the signature invalid. However, he offered no proof regarding using an autopen or his assertion that it would nullify the signature.
US presidents have traditionally employed autopens, including for signing laws. Nonetheless, Trump and his allies, such as those associated with the right-leaning policy initiative Project 2025, have attempted to leverage this topic to undermine Biden’s legitimacy as president.
Biden granted pardons to former senior Republican congresswoman Liz Cheney and other members of the congressional panel that investigated the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, which involved Trump’s supporters and various efforts by Trump to overturn the 2020 election he lost.
The pardons issued by Biden after his presidency effectively provided blanket immunity, shielding lawmakers from Trump’s repeated threats of retribution should he prevail in the 2024 election.
When questioned by reporters earlier on Monday about whether all of Biden’s autopen signatures should be nullified, Trump responded, “I think so. It’s not my decision; that will be up to a court.”
However, he said on Truth Social that the committee members “should fully comprehend that they are liable to face investigations at the highest level.”
Experts who spoke with the Axios media outlet pointed out that even if Trump were to lose a legal challenge regarding his actions, the harm would already be inflicted, with those he targets facing arduous legal struggles.
Biden also preemptively pardoned individuals such as former Covid pandemic advisor Anthony Fauci, retired General Mark Milley, and— most controversially—members of his own family, including his son Hunter. All had become public targets for the incoming Republican president.
Trump has consistently vowed “retribution” against his political rivals and has threatened some with criminal charges, while Biden stated at the time that he could not “in good conscience do nothing.”
Upon taking office this January, Trump swiftly issued several pardons to his supporters, including around 1,500 people convicted for their involvement in the Capitol breach aimed at obstructing the certification of Biden’s election victory on January 6, 2021.
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