Context:

In a rare interview, former President Biden confirmed his extensive use of the autopen to sign documents, including granting clemency and pardons, during the final days of his presidency. This admission comes amidst investigations led by Senate and House Republicans and President Trump's Justice Department into whether Biden's age affected his presidential duties. The decision to use the autopen was facilitated by a meeting with senior aides, after which his chief of staff approved its use for executing numerous pardons. The interview marks Biden's first discussion with the New York Times since assuming the presidency in 2021, and it follows recent interviews of current and former aides by Comer's committee. Additional interviews with senior aides are anticipated in the near future, as concerns persist about Biden's crisis management abilities, as suggested in a recent book about his cabinet members' worries.

Dive Deeper:

• Former President Biden confirmed that he authorized the use of an autopen to sign off on significant decisions, such as granting clemency and pardons, during the closing days of his presidency. This was due to the large number of people involved in these actions, which necessitated a more efficient approach.

• Investigations are underway, led by Senate and House Republicans and President Trump's Justice Department, to assess whether Biden's age influenced his capacity to fulfill his presidential responsibilities effectively.

• Following a meeting with senior aides on January 19, prior to Trump's inauguration, Biden's chief of staff Jeff Zients approved the use of the autopen for executing a series of pardons, as indicated in emails obtained by the New York Times.

• Biden's recent interview with the New York Times was his first with the publication since taking office in early 2021, highlighting the significance of the discussion regarding his decision-making processes and the use of the autopen.

• Comer's committee has recently interviewed current and former aides of Biden, with more interviews of senior aides scheduled, reflecting ongoing scrutiny of Biden's handling of presidential duties and decision-making processes.

• Concerns over Biden's ability to manage crises have been highlighted in a book discussing cabinet members' apprehensions, adding another layer to the investigations into his presidential performance.

• The focus on Biden's use of the autopen underscores broader questions about the delegation of presidential authority and the mechanisms in place to ensure effective governance during his administration's transition period.