Johnson argues Biden pardons ‘invalid’ after bombshell autopen report
In a recent development, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has raised serious questions about the legitimacy of pardons granted by President Joe Biden, following a report from the House Oversight Committee that alleges a cover-up regarding the president’s cognitive abilities. Johnson’s comments come in the wake of a 100-page report released by the committee, which claims that Biden’s inner circle may have concealed signs of mental decline, potentially affecting the execution of presidential duties, including the signing of pardons and executive actions. Johnson, who has a background in constitutional law, stated that the pardons issued by Biden could be deemed “invalid on their face,” suggesting a legal challenge could be viable if pursued.
The report, spearheaded by House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., argues that Biden’s use of an autopen to sign executive orders raises significant constitutional questions. Comer specifically pointed to the numerous clemency orders issued during Biden’s presidency, asserting that such actions should be considered “void” if they were not signed with the president’s full awareness. Johnson echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of accountability in presidential decision-making and warning against allowing unelected officials to wield significant power without direct oversight from the president. This stance reflects broader concerns among House Republicans regarding Biden’s capacity to fulfill his role, with Johnson asserting that a president must be fully engaged in decisions that impact the nation.
In response to these allegations, a spokesperson for President Biden dismissed the committee’s findings as unfounded, stating that the president has consistently made his own decisions without any conspiracy or cover-up. The spokesperson urged Congressional Republicans to shift their focus from political attacks to more pressing issues, such as preventing a government shutdown. This ongoing debate highlights the deepening partisan divide in Washington, as Republicans challenge the legitimacy of Biden’s presidency while Democrats defend his actions and decisions as legitimate and duly executed. As the political landscape continues to evolve, the implications of these allegations and the responses from both parties will likely play a significant role in shaping the narrative leading up to the next election cycle.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson,
R-La., questioned the validity of pardons granted by former President Joe Biden after the release of a high-profile report by the House Oversight Committee.
“It sounds like a terrible novel or something, but this is reality,” Johnson said in response to the
House GOP’s
allegations that Biden’s inner circle conspired to hide signs of mental decline in the former president.
“And so the pardons, for example, he pardoned categories of violent criminals and turned them loose on the streets, and he didn’t even know who. He didn’t even know what the categories were, apparently, much less the individual people, that he pardoned.”
Johnson said the pardons were “invalid on their face.”
“I mean, I used to be a constitutional litigator. I would love to take this case,” he said.
The committee’s GOP majority released a 100-page report on Tuesday morning detailing findings from its months-long probe into Biden’s White House, specifically whether his inner circle covered up signs of mental decline in the ex-president, and if that alleged cover-up extended to executive actions signed via autopen without Biden’s full awareness.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., heaped doubt on whether Biden actually signed off on all of his executive actions when the autopen was used — in particular, the thousands of clemency orders he authorized during his term.
Comer said Biden’s autopen-authorized actions should be considered “void” and called on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to review the matter.
Asked at his press conference about whether there was a legal avenue to nullify Biden’s executive actions signed by autopen, Johnson signaled that he saw such an opportunity as it related to Biden’s pardons specifically.
“You can’t allow a president to check out and have unelected, unaccountable, faceless people making massive decisions for the country,” Johnson said.
A Biden spokesperson pushed back on the committee’s conclusions in a statement to Fox News Digital made Tuesday morning, however.
“This investigation into baseless claims has confirmed what has been clear from the start: President Biden made the decisions of his presidency. There was no conspiracy, no cover-up, and no wrongdoing. Congressional Republicans should stop focusing on political retribution and instead work to end the government shutdown,” the spokesperson said.
In an interview with
The New York Times
in July, Biden affirmed he “made every decision” on his own.
Eric
Eric is a seasoned journalist covering US Politics news.
