Former President Joe Biden defended his use of an autopen to sign his final pardons in a recent interview with The New York Times, responding to growing criticism over the move. In the final weeks of his presidency, Biden granted clemency to over 1,500 individuals—a record-breaking single-day act of clemency, according to the White House. Biden explained that he personally approved the criteria used to determine eligibility for pardons, even if he didn’t review every individual case.

To manage the large volume of paperwork, Biden’s staff used an autopen to affix his signature to the official documents. While the device has been used by previous presidents, critics—mostly Republicans—argue its use in this instance was excessive and questionable. They claim it may reflect an effort to shield the public from Biden’s declining health and capacity to perform official duties.

Former President Donald Trump reacted strongly, issuing a memo in June directing Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate the matter. He alleged that Biden’s aides abused the power of the presidential signature and called it “one of the most dangerous and concerning scandals in American history.” Trump suggested the autopen was used to hide Biden’s cognitive decline while advancing major policy decisions.

Trump further criticized the practice in comments to reporters, calling the use of an autopen “inappropriate,” particularly for appointments like ambassadorships. He argued that individuals dedicating years to public service deserved the respect of a real presidential signature, not a mechanical one.

Separately, the Department of Justice informed a federal court that it is reviewing records related to Jeffrey Epstein as part of a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit filed by Judicial Watch. The conservative watchdog group is seeking documents that identify Epstein’s clients and associates. The FBI said it has completed initial searches, but the review is ongoing, and no timeline has been given for the release of records.