So, here’s the scoop: Former President Joe Biden gave out some last-minute pardons, and it seems like they were signed with an autopen. According to a report, these pardons included well-known figures like Dr. Anthony Fauci and General Mark Milley. The New York Times took a deep dive into this and found out that some of Biden’s family members and people involved in the January 6th committee were also pardoned.
Fauci, in particular, has been a controversial figure. Critics have accused him of not being truthful when testifying before Congress about the COVID-19 pandemic. They claim that under his leadership, the National Institutes of Health funded risky research related to the virus.
Biden reportedly told the Times that his pardons, especially for his family, were a way to shield them from what he called a “vindictive” President Trump. The former president was quoted saying, “Everybody knows how vindictive he is.” He added that he made those decisions consciously, including pardoning Fauci.
The report suggests that Fauci’s pardon was signed by an autopen, with approval coming from Biden’s chief of staff, Jeffrey Zients. The Times highlighted that a White House aide, not Biden himself, gave the go-ahead for the autopen signature through an email. This adds a twist to the already complex situation.
The House Oversight Committee is now looking into Biden’s mental state and his capacity to authorize autopen use in such situations. Neera Tanden, a former aide, admitted under oath that she controlled Biden’s autopen for nearly two years. She denied any wrongdoing, insisting she followed a system set up by previous administrations.
The involvement of Zients adds another layer to the story. The Times points out that while Biden was in late-night meetings discussing pardons, it was Zients who ultimately approved them. Emails show that a draft summary of Biden’s decisions was sent to Zients’ assistant and then forwarded for final approval.
On Biden’s last night in office, he reportedly kept aides working until almost 10 p.m. to finalize decisions on pardons. The Times writes that the White House staff maintained a strict schedule to manage Biden’s energy levels. This raises some doubts about his direct involvement in the late-night decision-making process.
The email chain shows a complicated path from Biden to Zients for approval. An aide sent a draft summary of Biden’s decisions at 10:03 p.m., which was quickly approved by Zients’ assistant. Within just three minutes, Zients gave the green light for the autopen signature on all the listed pardons.
Although the president has the unique power to issue pardons, the process here seemed to involve layers of assistants and approvals. Ultimately, the pardons were not signed directly by Biden but by an autopen. It’s worth noting that Zients played a significant role in spreading information during the pandemic.
Zients was a strong supporter of mandatory vaccinations and criticized those who refused them. In December 2021, he warned that the unvaccinated faced a “winter of severe illness and death.” His approach echoed Fauci’s pandemic response, which led to widespread criticism.
The New York Times report attempts to paint a picture of Biden being involved in the pardons process. However, it seems to have raised more questions than answers. Approval for the autopen use wasn’t directly from Biden but from Zients, who got the final say after a complex chain of emails.
The autopen process was based on a “draft summary” of Biden’s words, which passed through several individuals before reaching Zients. In Fauci’s case and others, the approval came almost instantly after reaching Zients. This situation has led to calls for public hearings to investigate further.
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Darnell Thompkins is a Canadian-born American and conservative opinion writer who brings a unique perspective to political and cultural discussions. Passionate about traditional values and individual freedoms, Darnell’s commentary reflects his commitment to fostering meaningful dialogue. When he’s not writing, he enjoys watching hockey and celebrating the sport that connects his Canadian roots with his American journey.