Presidential Pardons and the Use of the Autopen

In this episode, Kate and Ben discuss presidential pardons and the use of the autopen including what it is and when it can be used.

Research and Resources:

• “Whether the President May Sign a Bill by Directing That His Signature Be Affixed to It.” U.S. Department of Justice website. Update June 2, 2015. https://www.justice.gov/olc/opinion/whether-president-may-sign-bill-directing-his-signature-be-affixed-it
• "Trump tries to void Biden’s pardons blaming autopen. Many presidents have used “it” by Rachel Treisman. Published in NPR website March 17 2025 and available on  https://www.npr.org/2025/03/17/nx-s1-5330709/autopen-biden-pardon-void
• “Biden pardons Fauci, Milley and members of Jan. 6 panel” by Tamara Keith. Published in NPR website updated January 20, 2025 and available on https://www.npr.org/2025/01/20/nx-s1-5268258/biden-pardons-fauci-milley-and-members-of-jan-6-panel
• Constitution Annotated. Constitution showing Article 2, Sec 2, Clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution. https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artII-S2-C1-3-1/ALDE_00013316/ Access on April 6, 2025
• “Who is Alice Marie Johnson, Trump’s newly appointed ‘pardon czar’?” by Chandelis Duster. Published in NPR website February 25, 2025 and available on https://www.npr.org/2025/02/25/nx-s1-5307330/trump-pardon-czar-who-is-alice-marie-johnson
• “GOP bill would ban use of autopen to sign pardons after Trump deems Bidens’ ‘void’” by Aubrie Spady. Published in Fox News website March 21, 2025 and available on https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-bill-would-ban-use-autopen-sign-pardons-after-trump-deems-bidens-void
• “What is an autopen? The signing device at the heart of Trump’s attacks on Biden pardons” by Diana Stancy. Published in Fox News website March 20, 2025 and available on https://www.foxnews.com/politics/what-autopen-signing-device-heart-trumps-attacks-biden-pardons
• “What is an autopen at center of Biden paron claims?” by Tara Suter. Published in The Hill website March 17, 2025 and available on https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5199554-what-is-an-autopen-at-center-of-biden-pardon-claims/

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