Donald Trump announced Monday that he has nullified preventative pardons issued by former President Joe Biden to lawmakers who investigated his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, despite uncertainty over his legal authority to revoke prior presidential pardons.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed the pardons were invalid because they were signed using an autopen—a mechanical device used for signature replication—though he provided no evidence to support his assertion or the claim that it would invalidate the pardons.
The pardons, issued during Biden’s final days in office, granted blanket immunity to Liz Cheney and other members of the January 6 Committee, shielding them from Trump’s promises of retribution if he returned to power.
“These pardons are hereby declared void, vacant, and of no further force or effect because of the fact they were done by autopen,” Trump wrote.
When asked whether all documents signed by an autopen should be voided, Trump responded, “I think so. It’s not my decision—that’ll be up to a court,” while warning that the committee members remain “subject to investigation at the highest level.”
In addition to pardoning lawmakers, Biden extended preemptive pardons to Anthony Fauci, General Mark Milley, and Hunter Biden, among others—figures who have faced frequent attacks from Trump and his allies.
Upon returning to office in January, Trump issued more than 1,500 pardons to supporters convicted for their roles in the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot, as part of his pledge to seek “retribution” against his political opponents.
