David Sacks, former AI advisor to President Trump, claimed a Democratic senator—Elizabeth Warren—“controlled” the White House autopen device used to apply Joe Biden’s signature to many executive orders. This has sparked controversy, as Trump argues these autopen-signed orders, including pardons, should be invalidated.
The autopen, usually reserved for less urgent documents, was allegedly used extensively during Biden’s presidency, including for controversial last-minute pardons. The conservative Heritage Foundation’s Oversight Project uncovered this widespread use, claiming “whoever controlled the autopen controlled the presidency.”
House Oversight Chair James Comer has issued subpoenas to Biden staffers to investigate, while DOJ pardon attorney Ed Martin is actively probing the autopen’s use, with whistleblowers involved.
Trump criticized the autopen use, calling it disrespectful and questioning the validity of the documents, saying Biden was likely unaware of its use.