What's autopen, tool Trump claims Biden used for signing pardons
What's the story
Former US President Donald Trump has accused Joe Biden, his Democratic successor, of using an autopen to sign pardoning documents.
An autopen is a device that automatically reproduces handwritten signatures.
The device records and saves the signature digitally, and then a robotic arm holding a pen or pencil reproduces it on paper.
The only person who can tell the difference between an original and a well-done autosignature is a trained eye.
Accusations
Trump's allegations and their implications
Trump has declared Biden's pardons "void," saying those who received clemency, including the Jan 6 House select committee, would be investigated.
He claimed they were granted without the latter's knowledge or approval.
Trump declared, "The 'Pardons' that Sleepy Joe Biden gave to the Unselect Committee of Political Thugs...are hereby declared VOID...because of the fact that they were done by Autopen."
Autopen history
History and usage of autopen in US presidency
US presidents have been using devices for duplicating handwriting since Thomas Jefferson used a machine known as a polygraph in 1804.
Many other US presidents have used autopens: Harry Truman, Gerald Ford, and reportedly even Barack Obama, who used one in January 2013 while extending George W. Bush's tax cuts during his Hawaii vacation.
The first commercial autopen was invented in 1942 by Robert M. De Shazo Jr, and became popular in the government.
Autopen usage
Other presidents' use of autopen
Bush himself, however, avoided using one due to legal concerns, but authorized its use to sign legislation extending funding for the Federal Aviation Administration for one week while traveling, per CNN.
Trump has not provided any evidence to back up his assertions, and neither has the White House.
When asked if Trump has legal authority to revoke pardons issued by autopen, press secretary Karoline Leavitt questioned Biden's knowledge of the pardons in the first place.
William Scharf
2 White House aides speculated about alleged abuse of autopen
She went on to cite a report by the New York Post that quoted two unnamed Biden White House aides who speculated about potential autopen abuse during his time.
An internal memo drafted by Trump staff secretary William Scharf last week said their White House had stricter rules around autopen use than other administrations.
It was only used when a document required multiple presidential signatures or multiple copies needed signing, but only after Presidential approval.