Discussion on Biden’s Use of Autopen

Brit Hume discussed the implications of former President Joe Biden utilizing an autopen, urging a media network to give less weight to the issue and to recognize its seriousness.

In a recent article by NBC News, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer from Kentucky addressed this topic. During an appearance on the podcast “Next with Mark Halperin,” Hume characterized the report as misleading.

“It’s quite apparent, or should be, that the conversation isn’t about Mr. Biden using an autopen for routine letters and similar matters. The real concern arises when it’s applied to significant official documents, like pardons,” Hume stated.

He elaborated on his belief that the story lacked depth and that NBC either misunderstood the situation or chose to propagate a false narrative.

“I’m concerned that I think it’s the latter, Mark,” Hume responded when host Mark Halperin inquired if NBC knew the story was false or if they had been misled. “Young journalists come into the field hearing about Biden’s use of an autopen; in their minds, anyone using one would seem equally suspect.”

Though Hume acknowledged that autopen usage might raise red flags regarding everyday issues, he emphasized that the president’s authority to grant pardons is extensive and likely legal.

“In my view, the power of pardon is so absolute—should a president choose to forgive certain individuals and direct staff with that intent, the use of an autopen for such decisions wouldn’t be legally questionable,” he noted.

From December 2024 to January 2025, Biden is said to have only manually signed pardons for his son, Hunter, while utilizing an autopen for 25 additional pardons and commutations during that time.

Biden remarked to the New York Times that he designated staff to use the autopen due to the volume of requests for clemency. He personally approved all pardons and commutations at his term’s end but indicated that staff used the autopen to manage the large number of requests.

A report from the New York Times mentioned that Biden did not individually authorize each standard pardon, as he issued them in large groups toward the conclusion of his administration.