Official Admits She Couldn’t Confirm if Biden Knew About Autopen Signatures

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Biden administration official Neera Tanden has admitted she used the autopen for presidential orders without knowing if Joe Biden himself approved the decisions, revealing a potentially massive constitutional crisis.

Key Takeaways

  • President Trump has waived executive privilege for nine senior Biden aides called to testify before the House Oversight Committee about autopen usage.
  • Neera Tanden testified she was authorized to use the autopen but couldn’t confirm if Biden personally approved the decisions being signed.
  • Multiple investigations are underway regarding the constitutionality of Biden’s 4,245 clemency actions, including preemptive pardons for Hunter Biden, Dr. Fauci, and others.
  • Concerns about Biden’s cognitive capacity during his presidency have intensified following revelations about widespread autopen usage for official documents.

Presidential Authority Questioned

President Donald Trump is actively assisting congressional Republicans in investigating the Biden administration’s controversial use of the autopen, which has raised serious constitutional concerns. The House Oversight Committee has summoned nine senior aides from Biden’s administration to testify, with Trump waiving executive privilege to ensure full transparency. This unprecedented move allows these officials to testify without legal barriers, highlighting the seriousness of allegations that Biden’s staff may have exercised presidential powers without proper authorization or oversight.

The investigation centers on whether Biden aides concealed information about his fitness to exercise presidential powers and potentially exercised those powers unconstitutionally themselves. Deputy White House Counsel Gary Lawkowski emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, evidence that aides to former President Biden concealed information regarding his fitness to exercise the powers of the President, and may have unconstitutionally exercised those powers themselves to aid in their concealment, implicates both Congress’ constitutional and legislative powers.

Damning Testimony Reveals Lack of Presidential Oversight

Former Biden advisor Neera Tanden delivered potentially damning testimony to congressional investigators, admitting she was authorized to use the autopen but was unable to confirm whether Biden himself had approved the decisions being signed. This revelation strikes at the heart of constitutional governance, suggesting that presidential authority may have been exercised without the president’s direct knowledge or consent. Tanden attempted to downplay concerns by claiming there was no discussion or cover-up of Biden’s health within the administration, but her inability to confirm presidential awareness of signed documents has only intensified scrutiny.

“In light of the unique and extraordinary nature of the matters under investigation, President Trump has determined that an assertion of executive privilege is not in the national interest,” said Deputy White House Counsel Gary Lawkowski, emphasizing the Trump administration’s commitment to exposing potential constitutional violations by the previous administration.

Expanding Autopen Usage Raises Serious Constitutional Questions

The investigation has revealed an alarming expansion of autopen usage during the Biden administration. What began as a limited tool for signing checks and correspondence has morphed into a mechanism potentially allowing staff to execute presidential powers without proper oversight. FRC Action Director Matt Carpenter said, At first, the presidential use of the autopen was limited to signing checks, correspondence, and other non-legislative tasks. In 2011, Obama authorized the use of the autopen to sign an extension of the Patriot Act while he was in France.

“Now, the use of the autopen has grown so much that we have no idea to what extent Biden, who was clearly cognitively deficient throughout his entire term as president, was involved in official business during his time as president,” Carpenter further explained, highlighting the troubling implications for constitutional governance.

Multiple Investigations Target Controversial Pardons

President Trump has launched his own investigation into the autopen use and alleged cover-up of Biden’s health, led by White House Counsel David Warrington and the Department of Justice. The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs’ select subcommittee and the Senate Judiciary Committee are conducting parallel investigations. Of particular concern are the 4,245 clemency actions issued by Biden, more than any president in history – including controversial preemptive pardons for his son Hunter Biden, Dr. Anthony Fauci, General Mark Milley, and January 6 Committee members.

“Good for President Trump in waiving executive privilege and allowing Biden staffers to testify in front of Congress about the use of the autopen in the White House. Biden issued more acts of clemency (4,245) than any other president in history, including preemptive pardons in the final days of his administration for his son Hunter, Dr. Anthony Fauci, General Mark Milley, and members and staff on the January 6 Committee,” said FRC Action Director Matt Carpenter.

As the investigation continues, questions persist about whether these pardons and other executive actions carry constitutional validity if Biden was not personally aware of or did not approve their issuance. With multiple testimony sessions scheduled and Anthony Bernal, a key Biden aide, recently canceling his scheduled appearance, the coming weeks promise to reveal even more about this potential constitutional crisis that may have allowed unelected staffers to exercise presidential powers without proper authorization.

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