Joe Biden's cognition, autopen investigation reignited by Trump. What is an autopen?
President Donald Trump said on May 20 he will be investigating Joe Biden's use of an autopen during his presidency, renewing criticism over Biden's mental cognition days after his predecessor announced his cancer diagnosis.
Trump's censure of Biden came as he spoke to reporters on Capitol Hill, remarking that Biden "didn't sign anything" during his presidency, and alluded "radical left lunatics that were running our country" had signed legislation in place of the former president.
Trump's comments come following the recent release of an audio recording of a 2023 Biden interview with special counsel Robert Hur, igniting further controversy over his mental fitness while in office. In it, Biden speaks haltingly and seemingly struggles to remember names and dates. House Oversight Chair James Comer said Friday, May 16, the panel would resume an inquiry into the autopen allegations.
In March, Trump took aim at precautionary pardons Biden issued days before leaving the White House, saying the autopen was used, but that it was "void and vacant" because the machine was used in lieu of Biden's own signature and that Biden was unaware it was being used.
Here's what you need to know about the history of the autopen, how it is used by presidents and how the machine works.
Autopen investigation: What is an autopen?
An autopen is a device used to replicate handwritten signatures without direct human involvement. It was first patented as a "polygraph" machine in 1803 and has since evolved into digital form. Many public figures have been known to use autopens for decades, including Jon Bon Jovi and Bob Dylan.
The use of the autopen has otherwise been uncontroversial over the years and never has been challenged or tested in court, with use of some form of signature copying devices dating back to the 1800s.
What does an autopen look like? How does autopen work?
There are several brands of digital autopens, but Ghostwriter is believed to be the nation's best-known and used most often, according to their website. Here is an example of how their T Series works:
Is the autopen legal?
A 2005 legal study commissioned by former President George W. Bush tasked the U.S. Department of Justice to look into the auto pen's constitutionality. While Bush never used it himself, the 29-page opinion called it legal.
What presidents used autopen?
It is believed the autopen machine was first used by a president in 2011 when President Barack Obama signed the expiring Patriot Act from France, where he was attending the G8 summit. He used it two other times during his presidency.
The first autopen, called the polygraph, was patented in 1803. It was later used by Thomas Jefferson, who called it the "finest invention of the present age," according to Shapell Manuscript Foundation, an educational organization dedicated to research and collection of manuscripts and historical documents.
It is believed Harry Truman made use of the device; Gerald Ford was open about utilizing it; and Lyndon B. Johnson appeared on the cover of "The National Enquirer" sitting with the device while in the White House, according to Shapell. John F. Kennedy was so dependent on the autopen, according to Shapell, that he was the subject of a book entitled "The Robot That Helped to Make a President."
Lori Comstock is a New Jersey-based journalist with the Mid-Atlantic Connect Team.