The Auto-Pen Scandal: Why It May Be the Most Alarming Abuse of Power in American History
Now that President Trump has returned to the Oval Office, the American people are finally beginning to confront the full scope of one of the most insidious scandals in modern U.S. history: the auto-pen scandal that unfolded under President Joe Biden.
Beneath the surface of routine governance, a deeply troubling reality was playing out…one in which executive power was, in practice, exercised by a small group of unelected individuals operating behind the scenes, while an aging and increasingly impaired President Biden appeared to be little more than a figurehead.
What Is the Auto-Pen Scandal?
The auto-pen…a mechanical device used to replicate a person’s signature…has long been employed for ceremonial letters and low-level administrative tasks. But under the Biden administration, it was reportedly used to sign critical executive orders, binding legislation, and even presidential pardons.
These weren't minor gestures. These were high-level constitutional actions taken on behalf of the President of the United States…without a human hand on the pen, and quite possibly without the human mind necessary to authorize them.
And that raises a terrifying question: Who was really running the country?
A President in Name Only?
From slurred speeches and blank stares to confused moments on international stages, Americans watched with growing concern as President Biden appeared to struggle with even the most basic functions of the office. For many of us who have cared for aging parents or grandparents…particularly those suffering from Alzheimer’s, dementia, or Parkinson’s…what we saw wasn’t politics. It was painfully familiar.
Yet instead of addressing it with honesty, invoking the 25th Amendment, or initiating transparent procedures to protect the republic, senior officials around the president appeared to construct a carefully managed illusion…propping him up for the cameras while quietly wielding executive authority themselves.
That illusion, in the end, wasn’t just a political strategy. It was a form of constitutional fraud.
The Pardons Problem
Perhaps the most egregious example of this abuse lies in the realm of presidential pardons. The power to pardon is absolute and irreversible…requiring the full judgment, deliberation, and intent of the president. Yet we now know that several pardons may have been issued via auto-pen, with no clear record of Biden’s review, approval, or even awareness.
If true, this is not only a grotesque breach of public trust…it may be criminal.
A Call for Accountability…But With Realistic Expectations
The Trump Administration and Congress are right to demand a full investigation. Americans deserve to know:
Who was making decisions in the President’s name?
Were constitutional protocols followed?
And were pardons and executive orders issued without lawful authority?
But let’s be honest: the probable outcome of such an investigation will be inconclusive.
Why? Because anyone who has walked with a loved one through neurological decline knows how complicated and heartbreaking this territory is. Individuals with deteriorating cognitive abilities often have moments of lucidity and insist, even adamantly, that they are fine. They don’t see their own decline…and they rarely admit it, even in private.
President Biden is no different. He is unlikely to concede that he wasn’t fully in control, even if evidence suggests otherwise. His legacy, dignity, and personal pride are at stake.
Meanwhile, those who propped him up…whether for ideology, personal gain, or political power…are just as unlikely to confess. Admitting they ran the country from behind the curtain without the public’s consent would be to admit a silent coup of the American presidency. The career-ending implications of that truth are too great for most to bear.
Why the Scandal Still Matters
The goal of an investigation isn’t just a confession. It’s exposure.
Even if no one ever fully admits what happened, dragging the truth into the light helps prevent it from happening again. It sends a message to every administration that the presidency is not a proxy to be passed around behind closed doors. It is a solemn, constitutional office that belongs to the people…and to the person they elect.
What the Trump Administration and Congress Can Do Now
To restore trust in the presidency, and to ensure this kind of abuse never happens again, the Trump Administration and Congress should immediately:
1. Launch a Full Congressional Investigation
Form a Select Committee with subpoena power to investigate the use of the auto-pen and the chain of decision-making during Biden’s presidency.
Examine records, internal communications, and testimonies regarding executive orders and pardons.
2. Conduct a Forensic Review of Executive Orders and Pardons
Identify all legally binding documents signed via auto-pen.
Determine whether there is any record of President Biden directly reviewing or authorizing them.
3. Pass the Presidential Signature Integrity Act
Require all binding presidential signatures to be completed in person, or with verified digital and video authorization.
Mandate real-time public disclosure of auto-pen usage for non-ceremonial matters.
4. Institute Mandatory Annual Cognitive Assessments
Require annual, independent cognitive evaluations of the president, with oversight from a bipartisan medical panel and transparent reporting.
5. Codify Pardon Safeguards
Require that all presidential pardons include a written and recorded statement by the sitting president confirming review and consent.
Conclusion: A Republic, If We Still Want It
The auto-pen scandal isn’t just about one man. It’s about how easily democratic institutions can be hijacked through silence, sympathy, and shadow governance.
Even if we never get a confession…even if the evidence remains frustratingly incomplete…the fact that this happened at all is a warning to every American:
The presidency is not a puppet show.
The office of the President is not a set piece to be animated by machines or manipulated by staffers. It is the most powerful seat in the world…and it must be occupied by a conscious, capable, and accountable human being.
The Trump Administration must now do more than restore policies. It must restore truth.
And in doing so, preserve what too many others were willing to quietly sell: the consent of the governed.
