President Donald Trump is intensifying scrutiny on Joe Biden after newly leaked audio from Biden’s 2023 interview with Special Counsel Robert Hur reignited concerns about Biden’s cognitive fitness—this time tying it to what Trump is calling the “autopen scandal.”
The leaked recording reveals moments where Biden struggled to recall key events, such as the year of his son Beau’s death and dates tied to his vice presidency. Those lapses were among the reasons Special Counsel Hur declined to pursue charges against Biden for mishandling classified documents.
President Trump, responding publicly, said the situation is “looking like a bigger and bigger scandal,” highlighting the use of an autopen—a mechanical signature device—on critical presidential documents during Biden’s term. Trump questioned whether Biden was actually involved in the decisions his signature finalized, especially given his apparent memory lapses.
While autopen devices have historically been used by presidents for routine paperwork, Trump and congressional Republicans argue Biden’s use of it raises deeper issues of accountability, especially in matters of national importance like pardons and executive orders.
The Republican-led House Oversight Committee has opened an investigation to determine how extensively the autopen was used during Biden’s time in office, and whether key decisions were made without his direct input. Lawmakers are demanding records of who authorized the use of the device and under what circumstances.
As President Trump continues to spotlight the issue, the controversy is becoming a centerpiece in the ongoing debate over transparency and executive authority under the previous administration.