Neera Tanden’s Testimony Raises Questions About Presidential Autopen Usage
In a closed-door session on Tuesday, former Biden administration official Neera Tanden confessed to the House Oversight Committee that she had control over President Joe Biden’s autopen—a device used for signing documents. This revelation has sparked further scrutiny into the ongoing concerns regarding Biden’s mental acuity and the use of this automatic signature tool during his presidency.
Chairman James Comer of the House Oversight Committee has recently pointed to five Biden aides implicated in what he claims is a cover-up regarding Biden’s cognitive decline and the autopen controversy. Tanden, who served as the Director of the Domestic Policy Council, acknowledged her role in using the autopen between October 2021 and May 2023 during her time as staff secretary and senior adviser.
According to a report from the Washington Examiner, Tanden clarified in her testimony that while she was authorized to operate the autopen, she vehemently denied any allegations of manipulation or misuse. In her opening remarks, she detailed her responsibilities, stating, “As staff secretary, I was responsible for handling the flow of documents to and from the president. I was also authorized to direct that autopen signatures be affixed to certain categories of documents.”
Her assertion that a systematic approach to autopen usage was inherited from previous administrations raises eyebrows. She emphasized, “We employed that system throughout my tenure as staff secretary.” However, Tanden ceased overseeing the autopen’s use after May 2023 when her role shifted to leading the Domestic Policy Council.
The Oversight Project has previously highlighted that Tanden was in charge of the autopen when Biden granted pardons while on vacation and golfing in the U.S. Virgin Islands. This adds another layer of intrigue to Tanden’s testimony, as it suggests she may have been behind significant decisions made while Biden was absent from the White House.
Moreover, Tanden had previously gained notoriety for her involvement in the leaked Podesta emails from the Clinton campaign and her vocal stance on various political matters, including the infamous Russiagate conspiracy theory. Her history of engaging in contentious political battles may color perceptions of her recent statements.
Earlier this year, reports emerged revealing that six individuals were pardoned by Biden’s autopen on December 30, 2022, coinciding with his golf outing in St. Croix. This timing raises further questions about the extent of Tanden’s involvement in such significant decisions during Biden’s absences.
Following her testimony, Tanden briefly addressed reporters, firmly denying any cover-up related to Biden’s health. When pressed on the matter, she stated, “Absolutely not.”
In light of these revelations, former President Donald Trump weighed in, claiming that whoever operated Biden’s autopen “usurped the power of the presidency.” He suggested that this incident could be one of the biggest scandals in American history, arguing that it facilitated decisions Biden would not have made had he been fully in command of his faculties.
“Other than the Rigged Presidential Election of 2020, the Biggest Scandal in American History is the ‘AUTOPEN!’” Trump proclaimed on Truth Social. “Whoever used it was usurping the power of the Presidency… Fear not, however, we will bring America BACK, BIGGER, BETTER, AND STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE!”
The implications of Tanden’s testimony, along with the political fallout from the autopen scandal, could have lasting effects on perceptions of the Biden administration, especially as it navigates ongoing scrutiny regarding the president’s health and decision-making capabilities.
