Biden Defends Use of Autopen Amid Controversy Over Historic Clemency Decisions

President Biden granted a record 4,245 clemency actions, including 1,500 pardons in one day, while defending his use of an autopen for signing decisions.

Overview

A summary of the key points of this story verified across multiple sources.

1.

Biden granted 4,245 acts of clemency, with 96% occurring in his final months, including a record 1,500 pardons in one day.

2.

The use of an autopen for signing clemency decisions has sparked outrage and led to investigations by the Department of Justice and House Oversight Committee.

3.

Biden defended the legal use of the autopen, citing its use by previous presidents, while denying allegations of incapacity and calling critics "liars."

4.

Hunter Biden received an unconditional pardon, the only clemency warrant signed by hand, during a flurry of clemency actions in Biden's last days in office.

5.

Biden asserts he personally made all clemency decisions, including the use of the autopen, while reducing sentences for nearly 4,000 federal convicts.

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Analysis

Compare how each side frames the story — including which facts they emphasize or leave out.

Sources present a contentious dispute regarding former President Biden's use of an autopen for clemency actions. They detail Republican accusations of his incapacitation and illegal use, alongside Biden's forceful denials, where he calls accusers "liars" and justifies the practice due to volume. The coverage reports on ongoing investigations and provides both sides' arguments.

Sources:USA TODAY