Part of the story Biden's end-of-term clemency, from commuted death sentences to the autopen fight Coverage dated March 16, 2025 to March 18, 2025
Are Biden pardons ‘void’ because he used an autopen? No, Trump’s claim is False Headline from Poynter
Legal experts say the Constitution doesn’t require pardons be hand-signed by the president; using a mechanical signature is not prohibited
Poynter's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.
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NBC 6 South Florida
Trump says Biden's pardons for Jan. 6 committee are 'void' because he used an autopen ↗ (opens NBC 6 South Florida) Published Mar 16, 2025
Same headline from 7 more outlets NBC 6 South Florida's feed description President Donald Trump is claiming that Joe Biden's pardons for members of the House Jan. 6 committee are invalid because Biden didn’t use a real pen.
Fox7 Austin
What is an autopen? ↗ (opens Fox7 Austin) Published Mar 16, 2025
Same headline from 6 more outlets Fox7 Austin's feed description President Donald Trump is claiming that pardons signed by former President Joe Biden should be canceled because Biden allegedly used an autopen.
ABC 13 Houston
Trump claims Biden pardons for Jan. 6 committee 'void, vacant' ↗ (opens ABC 13 Houston) Published Mar 16, 2025
Same headline from 5 more outlets ABC 13 Houston's feed description President Trump claimed that Joe Biden's pardons of members of the committee and others were "void, vacant, and of no future force of effect."
PJ Media
New York Post
Trump says Biden’s autopen pardons are now ‘void, vacant and of no further force or effect’ ↗ (opens New York Post) Published Mar 16, 2025
New York Post's feed description President Trump said early Monday that he was voiding all the last-minute pardons former President Joe Biden made using autopen.
Los Angeles Times
Schiff dismisses Trump assertion that Biden pardons for Jan. 6 committee are 'void' ↗ (opens Los Angeles Times) Published Mar 16, 2025
Los Angeles Times's feed description Sen. Adam B. Schiff rebuffed President Trump's claims disputing President Biden's pardons for the Jan. 6 committee that Schiff sat on, saying its members would not be silenced by Trump's threats.
Washington Examiner
Trump declares all pardons by Biden as ‘void’ and ‘vacant’ ↗ (opens Washington Examiner) Published Mar 16, 2025
Same headline from 1 more outlet Washington Examiner's feed description Trump cited Biden’s use of “Autopen” as to why he declared the pardons "void" and "vacant," saying Biden didn't sign or “know anything about” the pardons.
Breitbart News
Trump: Biden's Pardons of Jan. 6 Committee 'Void, Vacant' Due to Autopen ↗ (opens Breitbart News) Published Mar 16, 2025
Breitbart News's feed description President Trump said Biden's preemptive pardons for members of the January 6 Committee are "void, vacant, and of no further force or effect."
Roll Call
Trump declares Biden pardons of Jan. 6 panel to be invalid ↗ (opens Roll Call) Published Mar 16, 2025
Roll Call's feed description President Donald Trump said pardons granted by President Joe Biden to lawmakers on the disbanded committee to investigate Jan. 6 are invalid.
Latin Times
Trump Voiding Biden Pardons Over Autopen is 'Ridiculous Side Show' That Will Be 'Dead on Arrival', Legal Expert Says ↗ (opens Latin Times) Published Mar 16, 2025
Latin Times's feed description A legal expert is challenging President Donald Trump's claim that pardons issued by Joe Biden are "void" for allegedly using an autopen
PJ Media
Forbes
Trump Calls Biden’s Pardons—Jan. 6 Committee, Fauci, Hunter Biden And More—‘Void’ Because Of Autopen Use ↗ (opens Forbes) Published Mar 16, 2025
Forbes's feed description A report by a hard-right group alleges Biden signed several last-minute pardons using an automated device, leading Trump to claim they are “void.”
The Boston Globe
The autopen is a time-tested tool for presidents' signatures. Here’s why Trump says Biden misused it. ↗ (opens The Boston Globe) Published Mar 16, 2025
The Boston Globe's feed description President Trump claimed that pardons issued by Joe Biden to the Jan. 6 committee have no force because the-then president signed them with an autopen.
Blaze Media
Trump declares Biden's 'autopen' pardons for J6 committee, Fauci, others are 'VOID' ↗ (opens Blaze Media) Published Mar 16, 2025
Blaze Media's feed description Trump indicated that a court will ultimately decide whether to yank his adversaries' accountability shields.
Fox News
Trump claims Biden pardons are 'VOID,' alleging they were signed via autopen ↗ (opens Fox News) Published Mar 16, 2025
Fox News's feed description President Donald Trump claimed then-President Joe Biden's pardon of members of the Jan. 6 House Select Committee and others are not valid, claiming they were signed via autopen.
PolitiFact
Is Trump right that Biden’s pardons are void? No ↗ (opens PolitiFact) Published Mar 16, 2025
Same headline from 1 more outlet PolitiFact's feed description President Donald Trump claimed some of former President Joe Biden’s pardons are invalid because Biden used an autopen. "
Hot Air
UPI
Trump claims Biden’s pardons void due to alleged autopen signatures ↗ (opens UPI) Published Mar 16, 2025
UPI's feed description President Donald Trump claimed Monday that preemptive pardons granted by former President Joe Biden to members of the House select committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol are not valid.
Salon
"Void and vacant": Trump says Biden pardons are nullified ↗ (opens Salon) Published Mar 16, 2025
Salon's feed description Donald Trump said the former president's pardons of representatives who investigated Jan. 6 were nullified.
Legitgov
FOX 5 DC
Trump says Biden pardons are 'VOID' over use of autopen ↗ (opens FOX 5 DC) Published Mar 16, 2025
FOX 5 DC's feed description President Donald Trump claimed former President Joe Biden's pardons for members of the House Select Committee that investigated the Jan. 6 Capitol riot are 'VOID," alleging they were signed via an autopen.
NPR
Trump tries to void Biden's pardons, blaming autopen. Many presidents have used it ↗ (opens NPR) Published Mar 16, 2025
Same headline from 2 more outlets NPR's feed description Trump claims without evidence that Biden's Jan. 6 panel pardons are void because he allegedly used an autopen. Autopens have been popular with presidents for decades. Here's what to know about them.
Townhall
The Boston Globe
Trump says Biden’s pardons are ‘void’ and ‘vacant’ because of autopen ↗ (opens The Boston Globe) Published Mar 16, 2025
Same headline from 2 more outlets The Boston Globe's feed description President Trump wrote on social media Sunday night that he no longer considered valid the pardons his predecessor granted to people whom Trump sees as political enemies because they were signed using an autopen — a typically uncontroversial method of affixing a presidential signature.
AL.com
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Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.
