On Wednesday, June 4th, President Donald Trump ordered Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate if former President Joe Biden’s aides covered up his mental decline and used an autopen to carry out presidential actions without proper authority.
The memo accuses Biden’s team of hiding signs of mental decline by authorizing key documents under his name without his full awareness or lawful authority. Trump claimed that this conduct may have violated Article II of the Constitution, as it allowed others to carry out decisions such as issuing clemency or executive orders without Biden’s direct involvement.
At the center of the investigation are more than 1,200 official documents allegedly signed via autopen during Biden’s presidency, including 37 death row commutations made in December 2024. Trump also directed Bondi to look into whether evidence of Biden’s condition was intentionally suppressed and if coordinated efforts were made to mislead the public.
The memo references a 2005 Justice Department opinion that permitted autopen use in certain cases, but Trump argues this case involves deception, not procedural shortcuts.
In response, Biden firmly denied any misconduct. He said all decisions made during his presidency were his own and dismissed the investigation as politically driven. His former aides also rejected the claims, maintaining that Biden remained active and aware throughout his time in office.
The Justice Department has not set a timeline for completing the investigation, and Biden’s former administration has yet to respond publicly.
