Trump Calls Biden’s Preemptive Pardons “Void”

President Donald Trump challenged the validity of former President Joe Biden’s pardons on social media, claiming they are nullified by the use of an autopen.

Key Insights

Trump claims Biden’s last-minute pardons are void due to alleged autopen use.
Trump questions Biden’s awareness and mental state concerning the pardons.
There are calls for legal investigations into Biden’s pardons.
Legal experts doubt the legality of reversing a pardon that has already been issued.

Trump Claims Pardons Are “Void”

Former President Donald Trump asserted that the pardons issued by Joe Biden’s administration are “void, vacant, and of no further force or effect” because they allegedly involved an autopen, a device that replicates signatures. Trump argues this method invalidates the authenticity of the pardons provided on Biden’s last day in office, including those to the Jan. 6 Committee members and other high-profile figures.

Trump challenged Biden’s awareness and involvement in the pardoning process, claiming that the pardons were issued without his knowledge or approval. He also went so far as to suggest the individuals pardoned were responsible for the signings.

President Trump claims that former President Biden's preemptive pardons for members of the Jan. 6 Select Committee and others were "void, vacant, and of no further force or effect" due to him using an autopen. https://t.co/j3LEeR08Tv

— NBC 15 News (@mynbc15) March 17, 2025

Legal Question Raised on Autopen Use

Missouri’s Attorney General Andrew Bailey previously expressed concern over the constitutional implications of using an autopen for pardons. He calls for the Department of Justice to investigate whether Biden’s staff carried out pardoning measures without his knowledge, potentially breaching legal protocols.

The story has sent shockwaves across political and legal circles, prompting discussions about its ramifications and potential high-level investigations into the pardons that Trump previously denounced as “disgraceful.”

Uncharted Legal Territory

Despite Trump’s strong assertions, it remains unclear how the legal system will respond to his claims. There is no historical precedent for a sitting president’s pardons being annulled post-term based on the methods used to authorize them, specifically an autopen.

Other presidents, including former President Barack Obama, have used an autopen to sign documents in the past. Legal experts thus far have expressed doubt that a president could invalidate the pardon of a previous president. When asked on Air Force One to elaborate on whether he felt the pardons would stand, Trump said, “It’s not my decision; that’ll be up to a court. But I would say that they’re null and void.”

Further scrutiny and potential legal challenges could alter the current political and legal landscape significantly, signaling another chapter in the ongoing saga of political polarization and accountability in Washington.