Donald Trump declares Biden’s pardons ‘void’ over autopen use; Jan 6 panel, Fauci and others may face scrutiny

US President Donald Trump claimed in a social media post that former President Joe Biden’s last-minute pardons are invalid because they were signed using an autopen.

“The ‘pardons’ that Sleepy Joe Biden gave to the Unselect Committee of Political Thugs, and many others, are hereby declared VOID, VACANT, AND OF NO FURTHER FORCE OR EFFECT, because of the fact that they were done by Autopen,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Monday (March 17).

Biden’s controversial pardons

Biden issued preemptive pardons to several individuals, including:

• Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and other members of the January 6 congressional committee that investigated Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election.
• Retired General Mark Milley, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
• Dr. Anthony Fauci, former NIAID director, along with his family.
• Hunter Biden, the president’s son.

Biden said these pardons were intended to shield individuals from what he described as politically motivated retaliation.

“These pardons should not be construed as an acknowledgment that any individual engaged in any wrongdoing,” Biden stated at the time.

Trump calls for investigations

Trump suggested that the pardons were improperly executed and indicated that the January 6 panel members could face scrutiny.

“The committee members should fully understand that they are subject to investigation at the highest level,” Trump warned in his Truth Social post.

He further suggested, without evidence, that the committee members were “probably responsible for the Documents that were signed on their behalf” without Biden’s direct knowledge.

Legal questions over Autopen signatures

Trump expanded on his claim while speaking to reporters on Air Force One on Sunday.

“It’s not my decision – that’ll be up to a court – but I would say that they’re null and void, because I’m sure Biden didn’t have any idea that it was taking place, and somebody was using an autopen to sign off and to give pardons,” Trump stated.

Trump’s own pardons

Upon returning to office in January 2025, Trump quickly issued multiple pardons to his supporters. This included around 1,500 individuals convicted for their role in the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol, which was aimed at blocking the certification of Biden’s 2020 election victory.