At a press event on Tuesday, former President Donald Trump suggested that Lisa Monaco, a former Deputy Attorney General under President Joe Biden, may have been involved in the controversial use of the autopen for signing executive orders and pardons. Monaco, the second-highest-ranking official at the Justice Department during her tenure, is known for her work in counterterrorism, cybersecurity, and addressing domestic extremism. Trump’s remarks add a new dimension to the growing scrutiny over Biden’s alleged use of the autopen. A report by The Washington Examiner, citing the Oversight Project—a watchdog group formerly tied to the Heritage Foundation—claimed Biden used the autopen at least three times, even while physically present in Washington and signing other documents by hand.
Mike Howell, president of the Oversight Project, disclosed on The Sean Hannity Show that investigators had identified three distinct autopen signature versions. He argued that repeated use of these signatures could implicate serious legal concerns, including forgery, impersonation of a government official, and possibly bribery. Howell also noted that the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee has begun an investigation and said Trump may waive executive privilege to aid the probe. He further claimed that journalists like CNN’s Jake Tapper and Axios’s Alex Thompson could be forced to reveal their sources, stating, “There is no right to hide sources in a criminal conspiracy. That is what we are talking about here.” The controversy has triggered debate about transparency, legal authority, and the use of presidential tools like the autopen.