So, are the Presidential pardons, EOs, laws etc etc void... if they're not actually signed by the President with his own hand but by the 'autopen'?
Biden's pardon were done by an autopen and so were many laws, EOs, etc etc.
The infamous 'autopen' machine...
It is believe that Harry Truman was the first President to use it on replies to letters?
Obama became the 1st President to use it to sign legislation when it was used to signed an extension of the Patriot Act, while he was in France. It was used for Biden's pardons, EOs, etc etc... Trump have used it, but he claimed he only used it for unimportant paper/documents or answering letters, etc. etc.
Is it wrong? Is it legit? Can it be abuse? I don't know about right/wrong or legit/illegit but I believe it could be abuse... e.g. if a President is mentally incapacitated, WH staff and those in the inner-circle could use it to sign off on bills, EOs, etc etc.
I think it could be used in an emergency, if there is an official letter signed by the President accompanying the autopen signed Law or EOs - in cases where the President is unavailable and can not make the deadline for the signature. Otherwise, it should only be use on unimportant, non-classified papers/documents.
