A federal investigation has been launched into a wave of last-minute pardons issued by President Joe Biden at the end of his term, raising concerns over the legitimacy of the documents and the method by which they were signed.
According to recent reports, Department of Justice Pardon Attorney Ed Martin has opened a formal review into allegations that many of the pardons may not have been personally signed by Biden, but rather executed using an autopen — a mechanical device that can replicate a signature. This has sparked debates over their validity and prompted calls for further accountability, particularly regarding figures linked to the Biden administration such as Hunter Biden, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and former Congresswoman Liz Cheney.
Martin, who previously served as acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia before his confirmation was blocked in the Senate, now leads the DOJ’s pardon office and heads a special investigative unit under Attorney General Pam Bondi focused on potential misuse of government authority.
His inquiry follows a report by the Heritage Foundation’s Oversight Project, which suggested that many of the documents bearing Biden’s signature may not have been signed by hand. The report triggered immediate concern over whether the pardons are constitutionally valid.
In a press briefing on May 13, Martin addressed the matter directly. “It’s important to evaluate these pardons thoroughly,” he said. “They must reflect due process, transparency, and proper executive authority. Our team will examine every step taken in these final days.”
Martin emphasized that even if the investigation doesn’t result in criminal charges, the findings will still be made public. “Accountability isn’t just about prosecution,” he stated. “It’s about transparency. If someone’s actions violated public trust, we have a duty to expose that—even if legal consequences aren’t possible.”
In an interview with radio host Vince Coglianese, Martin noted the unusual volume and scope of the pardons, which reached back more than a decade. “I’ve never seen such a large number of retroactive pardons issued in such a short time,” he said. “It raises legitimate questions about whether political motives or even corruption were involved.”
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump responded swiftly to the controversy, declaring on Truth Social that he considers the pardons invalid. He claimed that Biden was unaware of the documents being issued, and that they were signed without his direct involvement. “These pardons are VOID,” Trump wrote, suggesting that members of the January 6 Committee may have had a hand in orchestrating the approvals without Biden’s full knowledge.
Trump also accused committee members of deleting evidence from their investigation into the former president, stating, “They may soon be under the same legal scrutiny they tried to impose on others.”
As the investigation unfolds, all eyes will be on the DOJ to determine whether these pardons stand up to legal scrutiny—or whether they will mark another chapter in a growing debate over transparency and accountability in presidential powers.
