President Donald Trump has directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate whether former President Joe Biden’s aides conspired to mislead the public regarding his mental condition and improperly used an autopen to execute presidential powers.
The memorandum, issued Wednesday, June 4th, alleges Biden’s advisors masked his cognitive decline by signing executive documents on his behalf without full awareness or legal justification.
The directive outlines a comprehensive probe into potential efforts by White House aides to “shield the public from information regarding Biden’s mental and physical health.” According to Trump’s memo, Biden’s use of the autopen signature device allowed others to authorize major policy decisions, including clemency and executive orders, without ensuring Biden’s direct involvement. The memo describes this as a potential violation of Article II of the U.S. Constitution.
Trump’s claims center on over 1,200 documents issued under Biden’s name, including the controversial December 2024 commutations for 37 death row inmates. The memorandum further requests an inquiry into whether recorded evidence of Biden’s cognitive limitations was suppressed and whether his aides coordinated public statements that misrepresented his capability. Trump cited a 2005 DOJ opinion that addressed the legality of autopen but emphasized that the current allegations involve deception, not procedural issues.
In response, Biden denied any misconduct. “Let me be clear: I made the decisions during my presidency,” he said. “Any suggestion that I didn’t is ridiculous and false.” Biden characterized the investigation as a political distraction and defended his administration’s actions. His aides also rejected claims of a coordinated effort to mislead the public, insisting that the president remained engaged with key decisions during his term.
Congressional Republicans are pursuing their inquiry. House Oversight Chair James Comer is reportedly considering testimony from Biden himself. Meanwhile, Senators John Cornyn and Eric Schmitt announced plans to hold hearings on the matter. Trump’s memo tasks Bondi’s office with identifying which documents were executed via autopen and determining who directed such actions. Ed Martin, head of DOJ’s Weaponization Working Group, has reportedly requested internal Biden-era records from the National Archives.
Biden’s former administration has yet to respond to the DOJ order formally. Legal analysts suggest that the investigation could raise constitutional questions about the delegated authority of the presidency. The Justice Department has not set a timeline for its findings.
