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Former President Donald Trump on Wednesday escalated his attacks on Joe Biden by ordering a Justice Department investigation into Biden’s final actions as president, alleging that aides concealed Biden’s cognitive decline and improperly used a mechanical signature device, known as the autopen, to authorize legislation, pardons, and executive orders.
The directive, delivered through a memo from Trump, asserts that Biden’s use of the autopen — a decades-old, legally accepted practice — was part of a deliberate effort to conceal that he was no longer capable of governing in his final months in office.
“This conspiracy marks one of the most dangerous and concerning scandals in American history,” Trump claimed in the memo, accusing aides of “wielding executive power” in Biden’s name.
“The American public was purposefully shielded from discovering who wielded the executive power.”
Trump named Attorney General Pam Bondi and White House counsel David Warrington to lead the probe.
Biden Responds: “I Made the Decisions”
In a rare statement Wednesday night, Joe Biden pushed back forcefully, saying he remained in full command of his presidency until his final day.
“Let me be clear: I made the decisions during my presidency,” Biden said. “Any suggestion that I didn’t is ridiculous and false.”
Legal experts and former Justice Department officials from both parties noted that the autopen has been in lawful use for decades, including under George W. Bush and Barack Obama, with the Justice Department affirming its constitutionality.
Yet Trump has continued to raise questions about its use under Biden, especially regarding presidential pardons issued in his final days — including for his two brothers and sister, as well as former members of the January 6 congressional investigation committee.
House Republicans Launch Oversight Probe
Parallel to Trump’s directive, House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-KY) announced his own inquiry, demanding interviews with at least 10 former Biden officials.
Comer alleges a “cover-up” and describes the situation as “one of the greatest scandals in our nation’s history.” He has threatened subpoenas if voluntary testimony is not scheduled soon.
The requested interviews include senior Biden aides such as Ron Klain, Anita Dunn, Mike Donilon, Bruce Reed, and Steve Ricchetti — all of whom allegedly witnessed Biden’s cognitive condition firsthand.
Citing Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson’s book “Original Sin,” Comer pointed to claims that Biden was not in control of his administration by the end of his term.
“Five people were running the country, and Joe Biden was at best a senior member of the board,” the book claims.
Democrats Denounce “Political Theater”
Democrats quickly dismissed the investigation as a desperate and unfounded effort to undermine Biden’s legacy.
“Chairman Comer had his big shot in the last Congress to impeach Joe Biden and it was, of course, a spectacular flop,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD).
“Now he’s just living off of a spent dream. It’s over. And he should give up the whole thing.”
Naomi Biden, the former president’s granddaughter, slammed the claims in the book and the investigation as “political fairy smut for the permanent, professional chattering class.”
Fallout From Biden’s Debate and Withdrawal
The inquiries come months after Biden’s disastrous debate performance against Trump, which led to public outcry and concerns over his mental acuity. Following mounting pressure, Biden withdrew from the 2024 race, and Vice President Kamala Harris stepped in as the Democratic nominee.
Harris ultimately lost the election to Trump, who has returned to the White House after a highly controversial and contested political comeback.
As Trump attempts to reframe Biden’s final year as illegitimate, legal analysts caution that challenges to Biden’s executive actions — especially those already implemented — face major constitutional hurdles.
Still, Republicans remain determined to use the probe to highlight claims of misgovernance, setting the stage for a broader political showdown over presidential authority, health, and transparency.
