Biden Admits He Did Not Individually Approve Most Pardons and Commutations.
Joe Biden,Autopen,Executive Powers,Pardons,Clemency,Donald Trump,Biden Administration,Media Bias
Former President Joe Biden admitted in a New York Times interview that “assistants” were responsible for notifying the autopen manager as to who should receive a pardon or commutation. Biden merely signed off on broad “standards” for most acts of clemency.
“[T]he only things that really we read off names for were, for example, you know, was I, what was I going to do about, for example, Mark Milley?” Biden told the newspaper. For the most part, names were filled in by the Bureau of Prisons, and autopen use was managed by aides based on meeting notes and summaries. However, Biden defended this practice, claiming full awareness of each decision.
“I made every decision,” Biden said in a phone interview with the NYT. “We’re talking about a whole lot of people.” He accused President Trump...
Related Coverage
AllSides Picks
Headline Roundup
Second New World Screwworm Case Found in Texas Raises Concerns for Livestock
June 7th, 2026
Headline Roundup
Judge Blocks Trump Immigration and Asylum Policies, Orders Processing to Resume
June 6th, 2026
News
Euthanasia Malpractice, Migrant ‘Abuses’ and a Racism Ruling: Latest News You Likely Missed
Malayna J. Bizier
June 6th, 2026