Trump Calls for Justice Department Probe into Biden’s Autopen Use Amid Cognitive Decline Concerns
Investigation launches into whether Biden's aides misled the public on his mental health and if presidential powers were improperly used.
Former President Donald Trump has issued a formal call for Attorney General Pam Bondi to spearhead an investigation into whether aides of former President Joe Biden deliberately misled the American public regarding Biden's mental health, particularly as it relates to his use of a mechanical autopen to authorize significant presidential actions.
In a detailed memo released Wednesday, Trump emphasized the immense influence and responsibility attached to the President’s signature, stating that it is the instrument through which laws are enacted, individuals are elevated to key government roles, policies are altered, and clemency is granted. Trump warned that improper delegation or deception in wielding this power could undermine the constitutional foundation of the presidency.
Trump alleged that, over recent months, it had become "increasingly apparent" that Biden’s staff improperly utilized the autopen to sign official documents on his behalf, all while hiding what Trump described as “serious cognitive decline.” He characterized these actions as part of "one of the most dangerous and concerning scandals in American history," arguing that the American people were "purposefully shielded" from knowledge of who was truly executing the powers of the executive branch while policies with far-reaching impact were enacted under Biden’s name.
According to Trump, Biden’s diminished cognitive abilities were known in private settings and were actively concealed by his closest advisors. He claimed that Biden’s team tightly controlled the president’s public appearances and scripted communications, restricting press conferences and managing interactions with officials and donors. All these steps, Trump contended, were intended to disguise Biden’s inability to fulfill his duties.
Despite these concerns, the memo noted that during Biden’s administration, over 1,200 presidential documents were issued, 235 federal judges appointed, and more pardons and commutations granted than any previous White House. Trump specifically referenced the high-profile clemency decision in late December 2024, in which sentences were commuted for dozens of individuals on federal death row, including violent offenders.
Trump further highlighted that the constitutional authority to take such executive actions is vested exclusively in the President. However, he suggested that the validity of many orders, grants, and appointments may be in question if they were authorized via autopen without Biden’s direct involvement or understanding during a period of cognitive decline. Trump warned that if advisors used the mechanical signature pen to conceal presidential incapacity and execute radical policies, it would represent an unconstitutional exercise of executive power and could threaten the legitimacy of numerous official actions.
The memo called upon Attorney General Bondi to lead a comprehensive investigation focused on whether senior aides or unnamed individuals conspired to hide the true status of Biden’s mental and physical health. Trump requested specific scrutiny into activities that shielded health information from the public, forged agreements to misrepresent video footage of Biden's cognition, and compelled false public statements about the president's abilities.
Investigators will also examine which key policy documents—including clemency grants, executive orders, and presidential memoranda—were signed using the autopen, as well as identify those individuals responsible for directing its use. The probe seeks to establish whether executive decisions on pivotal matters, such as immigration policy and border security, originated from Biden himself or from his inner circle acting independently.
Trump’s allegations follow increasing pressure from congressional Republicans, including Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, who recently initiated a separate inquiry into Biden’s health and competency in exercising presidential authority. Comer has expressed willingness to summon Biden to testify before the House if necessary, reflecting the intensifying scrutiny over the circumstances surrounding the use of the autopen in the final months of Biden’s presidency.
