Donald Trump’s allegations have been strongly denied by his predecessor, who chose not to seek a second term, ultimately allowing the billionaire to defeat Kamala Harris in the November election.
Trump has instructed his administration to investigate President Joe Biden’s actions during his time in office amid claims that Biden’s aides concealed signs of his alleged cognitive decline. This directive represents a notable intensification of Trump’s efforts against his political opponents and could serve as a basis for him to question the legitimacy of decisions made by the 81-year-old Biden.
In response, Biden issued a statement on Wednesday evening declaring: "Let me be clear. I made the decisions during my presidency. I made the decisions about the pardons, executive orders, legislation, and proclamations. Any suggestion that I didn’t is ridiculous and false." The Justice Department, under both Democratic and Republican administrations, has long accepted the use of an autopen—a device that replicates a signature—to sign legislation and grant pardons. Trump has provided no evidence that Biden was unaware of these actions, and the Constitution clearly grants the president absolute pardon power.
Nonetheless, Trump described the situation in a memo as “one of the most dangerous and concerning scandals in American history,” alleging that the public was deliberately kept in the dark about who actually exercised executive power, even as Biden’s signature appeared on thousands of documents driving major policy changes.
Trump has tasked Attorney General Pam Bondi and White House counsel David Warrington with overseeing the investigation. How far Trump intends to pursue this effort remains uncertain, especially given the legal obstacles it would face.
Trump frequently criticizes Biden’s use of the autopen, claiming that Biden’s aides were unlawfully taking presidential authority—despite the device’s decades-long use in the White House.
Shortly before leaving office, Biden issued pardons to his two brothers and sister, aiming to protect them from possible prosecution under Trump, who had promised retaliation during last year’s campaign. Other pardons included individuals involved with the congressional committee investigating the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot.
Trump often calls for investigations into his political rivals and has directed the Justice Department to probe those who have opposed him, including former cybersecurity official Chris Krebs, who disputed Trump’s 2020 election fraud claims, and Miles Taylor, a former Department of Homeland Security official who anonymously criticized Trump in 2018.
Meanwhile, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, a Republican from Kentucky, has requested transcribed interviews with five Biden aides, accusing them of participating in a "cover-up" that he calls “one of the greatest scandals in our nation’s history.” Comer stated: "These five former senior advisors witnessed President Biden’s condition and the operations within the White House. They must testify before the committee and provide truthful answers about Biden’s cognitive state and who was actually in charge."
The requested interviews include White House senior advisers Mike Donilon and Anita Dunn, former Chief of Staff Ron Klain, former Deputy Chief of Staff Bruce Reed, and Steve Ricchetti, a former presidential counselor.
Comer has also called for Biden’s physician, Kevin O’Connor, and former senior aides Annie Tomasini, Anthony Bernal, Ashley Williams, and Neera Tanden to appear before the committee, warning that subpoenas will be issued if voluntary interviews are not scheduled this week.
He told reporters, "I expect people to start appearing in the next two weeks," adding that the committee will publish a report along with the transcribed interviews to ensure transparency.
Democrats have dismissed the investigation as a political distraction. Representative Jamie Raskin, a Maryland Democrat and former ranking member of the oversight committee, remarked: "Chairman Comer had his chance in the last Congress to impeach Joe Biden, and it was, of course, a spectacular failure."
Nevertheless, Republicans on the committee remain eager to continue. Representative Brandon Gill, a Texas freshman Republican, said: "The American people didn’t elect a bureaucracy to run the country. They deserve to know the truth about what really happened."
The Republican inquiry has focused largely on Biden’s final executive actions, including the issuance of federal rules and pardons that they argue could be invalid.
Comer referenced the book Original Sin by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Axios’ Alex Thompson, which highlights internal debates within the White House and Democratic Party regarding concerns over Biden’s mental fitness and age. The book claims, "Five people were running the country, and Joe Biden was at best a senior member of the board."
Biden and his family have vehemently denied these allegations. The former president’s granddaughter dismissed the book as “political fairy smut for the permanent, professional chattering class.”
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